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177 



WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF 



THE AUTHOR. 

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INDIAN 



LOCAL NAMES, 



WITH 



THEIE INTERPRETATION. 



By STEPHEN G. BOYD. 



YORK, PA. : 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR: 
1885. 



COPYRIGHT SECURED BY 
STEPHEN G. BOYD. 
1885. 



INQUIRER PRINTING Co.. 
LANCASTER, PA. 



TO THE COMMON SCHOOL TEACHERS, 

A CLASS WHOSE DUTIES ARE 

ARDUOUS AND OFTEN PAINFUL, 

AND WHOSE LABORS ARE 
RARELY APPRECIATED OR ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED, 

THIS LITTLE BOOK, 

WITH THE HOPE 

THAT IT MAY OCCASIONALLY DROP A FLOWER IN THEIR 
PATHWAY, IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY 

THE AUTHOR, 



M122954 



PREFACE. 



WHILST engaged in teaching many years ago, I became impressed with the 
idea that the signification of local names might be used by teachers not 
only in imparting in many cases a better idea of the object named, but also 
in enlivening the too frequently dull monotony of class recitation. 

With this impression, I commenced the collection of the signification of 
local names, found in all parts of the world, of all classes and in all languages. 
Of course the work progressed slowly, especially as I rejected all definitions 
known to be merely conjectural in their character, and received even tradi 
tional ones with extreme caution. 

As the work progressed, however, my interest in the subject increased, and 
in order to avail myself of the very best authority on the subject in the Eng 
lish language, I even ordered for my library from England during the Civil 
War, when the rate of exchange was well nigh at its highest point. 

Some years subsequent to this, whilst spending some months in Harrisburg, 
Pa., in a position which gave me free use of the State library, I procured 
from its shelves the nucleus of my present collection of Indian names. 

It was no part of my purpose at the outstart to collect material for publica 
tion, but such has been the pleasure derived from the study of the subject, 
and such the evident advantage of a knowledge of the signification of local 
names, not only to the teacher, but to all persons making any pretensions to 
culture, indeed even to casual readers of the current literature of the day 
that I have concluded to publish the result of my labors, especially as, so far 
as known to me, the matter I have on hand is not now within reach of the public 
in any practical form, but scattered through many volumes, and much of it 
indeed, especially that relating to Indian names, not in print at all. 

Upon concluding to publish my collection, my first thought was to print it 
all in one volume, merely placing the Indian names in a separate vocabulary, 
for greater convenience of reference. As the subject of local names in gen 
eral, however, is a very broad and instructive one, from the study of which 
can be learned not only very much concerning the object named, but also 
much of the history and peculiarities of different peoples, and as I have not 
now the time, nor all the data desirable, to enable me to bring to press 
my contemplated work on local names in general, and as the present seems 
as well suited for the introduction of the Indian names to the public, as any 
future period is likely to be, I have concluded to publish my Indian collec 
tion separately, and without further delay, hoping to be able to put the other 
work through the press during the coming year. 

(v) 



VI PREFACE. 

In presenting this matter to the public, and especially to teachers, it is 
due to all parties to say, I I ave acted merely the part of a compiler I hope a 
careful one. But whilst this has been all it was in my power to do, I can 
safely say I have spared no labor or pains to obtain my information from the 
most reliable sources. 

In the preparation of the work, I have availed myself of the writings of 
Schoolcraft, Rev. John Heckewelder, Hon. J. II. Turnbull of Hartford, 
Conn., Hon. Albert Gallatin, Hon. Albert G. Gatschet of the U. S. Bureau 
of Ethnography, L. H. Morgan, Esq , Wm. C. Reichel, Esq., and others, 
and I acknowledge myself greatly indebted for personal aid to Judge G. W. 
Stidham of Eufala, I. T., N. T. True, Esq., of Bethel, Me., J. K. Simms, 
Esq., of Fort Plain, N. Y., Rev. S. G. Wright of Leech Lake, Minn., Rev. 
Thomas S. Williamson of St. Peter s, Minn., and Rev. J. Ross Ramsey of 
Wewoka, I. Ty. 

Notwithstanding the compiler has exercised every reasonable precaution to 
insure accuracy, he cannot hope his little work is free from errors. Whilst 
he freely admits that a knowledge of the score or more of Indian languages 
and dialects of languages from which those words are derived, would have 
enabled him to avoid errors into which he may have fallen, he is nevertheless 
impressed with the thought that if we wait for a work of this kind, until some 
one acquainted with all those languages shall write it, this generation will 
have passed away before such an event is likely to happen, since he knows of 
no one now living familiar with more than three or four of them. As before 
stated, he has sought the very best sources of information, both in books and 
in living persons, and has compiled the work with all possible care, rejecting 
many words, the definitions of which were not well authenticated/. 

Having done this, he commits his little volume to the public with the hope 
that it may not only afford entertainment and instruction to its readers, but 
that it will awaken a deeper interest in the subject of which it treats, and in 
the history, habits and manners of the aboriginal races of America. 

S. G. B. 



INTRODUCTION. 



SCATTERED all over our continent are to be found scores upon 
scores of local names standing as silent but most eloquent memorials 
of the previous existence of aboriginal races which will return to 
dwell among us no more forever. 

To all appearances those names are almost as imperishable as the 
objects to which they are attached, and whilst the sweet melody of 
their sounds is the subject of unceasing admiration, their signifi 
cation though known to comparatively few persons, are no less 
entitled to the attention of those who admire the exercise of good 
judgment in the practical affairs of life, and the beautiful in thought 
and sentiment. 

Possibly in those particulars the Indian local names in Ameri 
ca, as given by themselves, will compare favorably with those given 
by any other people in any country or at any known period of the 
world s history. 

To bring into clearer relief some of those characteristics of our 
aboriginal races, as illustrated in their local nomenclature, as well 
as to give greater zest to the study of our local history and geogra 
phy, is the chief purpose of this compilation. 

Whilst the writer fully recognizes the very great value of treatises 
on the grammatical structure of our Indian languages, for several 
reasons he has not deemed it proper to introduce matter of that 
character into those pages. He rather recognizes the fact that 
whilst such works are well suited to the wants and tastes of the few 
who have the time and inclination for extended research into the 
grammatical forms and etymological peculiarities and < haracteristics 
of those languages and their very numerous dialects, the masses 
must be content with a knowledge merely of the signification of 
the local names scattered so profusely around them, and with which 
they are brought into* daily contact. 

In the preparation of the present work, my purpose has been to 
produce as large a collection as possible of those names with their 
signification, stripped of all dispensable verbiage. 

Somewhat singular as it may appear, I have striven to make a 
small book ra her than a large one. 

The book having been intended for convenient referenc, nothing 
has been incorporated in it that conld possibly be dispensed with. 

True in many cases remarks more or less extended might have 

(vii) 



Vlll INTRODUCTION. 

been added to definitions, and innumerable foot notes could have 
been added to swell the size and increase the cost of the work, 
neither of which it was desirable to do, especially not the latter, as 
I wish to place it within reach of every one interested in the sub 
ject to which it relates. 

It will be seen that in some cases two and sometimes even three 
definitions are given to a word. In most cases these have been 
obtained from entirely different sources, each entitled to more or 
less credit, and may arise from a misappehension of the origin of 
the word, owing to the very great phonetic corruption which has 
taken place, or from translating from a different dialect, or in 
cases of great similarity of elementary sounds from translating 
from a root found in another language altogether, which would not 
only change the shade of meaning, but give an entirely different 
signification. 

In many instances, too, when doubts existed as to the correct 
ness of a definition, it has been so worded as to caution the reader 
against its unqualified acceptance. 

Whilst there might have been included in this connection with 
out impropriety some remarks on the geograpical distribution of 
the different Indian families whose local names appear in those 
pages, the writer is free to admit that no matter how ably written 
such an article might be, the maps on this subject, now found in 
nearly every school history of the United States, will give a much 
better idea of the geograpical position of those families and tribes 
than any mere verbal description can possibly do. 

Moreover, it is not my purpose to duplicate in this work infor 
mation within easy reach elsewhere. 

It will be seen, too, I have in many cases seemingly departed 
from the correct orthography of words defined. 

In those cases I have merely given the orthography of an earlier 
day, or the orthography of the original translators, some of whom 
are alluded to in the preface. Even Mr. Gatschet, recently trans 
lating names in the Gulf States, departs widely from the orthogra 
phy found there. 

Although I have mainly followed the orthography of the present, 
fearing, unless I did so, the names in many cases could not be iden 
tified with the present ones, there are very good reasons why the 
original orthography should be retained. The fact is we are fast 
drifting away, by phonetic corruption, from those beautiful Indian 
words, and the time may come when many of the names standing 
for those given by the aborigines will contain hardly one sound 
embraced in the original word ; in which case those words could 
no longer be traced to their origin, by their phonetic elements. 
Were it of any avail, we would say stop this mutilation. But it goes 
on, and will continue to go on until the last element of the original 
word, like the last remnant of the race that used it, shall have 
forever departed. 



INTRODUCTION. IX 

Already whilst many words like Paxton, Port Tobacco and Yel 
low Breeches have metamorphosed so completely their origin would 
not be suspected, others are following in their train to hasten the 
time when the English tongue giving forth purely English sounds, 
onlv, shall encircle the globe. 

Nothing is more evident than that all Indian local names have, or 
had a signification, and that in m >st case^ those names were given 
with rare good judgment ; at any rate, that they exercised quite as 
much judgment and good taste in such matters as did any of the 
races in Europe or Asia in former times. A very large majority of 
their names convey an idea of some property, quality or character 
istic of the object named, and not a few are commemorative of 
events which took place at or near the object, to which the names 
belong, and therefore may be said to be historical in their char 
acter. Whilst, however, the Indians frequently embalm events in 
their local names, they rarely honor their great men by giving 
their names to geographical objects, differing in this particular very 
greatly from our own people ; and they quite as rarely manifest any 
religious sentiment or predilection in their local names. 

Nor did they often give names having a metaphorical rather than 
a literal meaning. True they bestowed such beautiful names as 
Minnehaha and Suwanee, but they were descriptions of what was 
real in nature. 

This circumstance would seem to indicate that they were not an 
imaginative people, notwithstanding many of their great men have 
been noted for their eloquence. Judging, too, from their names, 
we should think they were rather grave than gay, although several 
of those names record their places of drinking and feasting. 

What strikes us very forcibly, is the uniformity, in character, of 
their nam<?s over the entire area of our continent, from which we 
must infer about the same degree of intellectual development, if 
not indeed great similarity in mental characteristics. No one sec 
tion seems to show more intellectual culture than another, or more 
fancy, or more of the aesthetic element, or more religious veneration, 
or more of the sentiment of patriotism. 

Whilst comparatively little of their history prior to the arrival of 
Europeans can be learned from their local names, mainly because 
they were destitute of letters, they prove unerring landmarks in 
determining the territorial limits not only of different families, but 
very often of different tribes of the same family, since many tribes 
had dialects of their own. 

I need hardly say the Indians are not responsible for the very 
free use which has been made of their local nomenclature by 
European settlers in this country, who have been using them with 
out any regard whatever to their signification rivers taking the 
names of mountains, and mountains of rivers, and the names of both 
given to cities, towns, political divisions, post-offices, and corner 
groceries. Nor are they responsible for the transplanting of those 



X INTRODUCTION. 

names to localities where they could not possibly have been pro 
nounced by the indeginous population. 

It is to be deeply regretted that the signification of so many of 
those names are lost, we fear beyond all hope of recovery. Inde 
pendent of the very great change, phonetically, which many words 
have undergone, where idiomatic constructions occur even a fair 
knowledge of the language will not always insure a correct trans 
lation. This being the case, it is all-important that those transla 
tions be made whilst the Indian is yet a living language. 

Indeed, even now some of those dialects are unknown to their 
few mongrel descendants. But much can yet be done to save our 
rich Indian nomenclature from oblivion, especially if it be quickly 
done. 

It will be seen I have appended a few words to the general vo 
cabulary. These were not obtained in time for insertion in their 
proper place. They have been procured mainly from Mr. Morgan s 
League of the Iriquois, a work now out of print, but richly entitled 
to republication. 

I have also included in this volume in a miscellaneous vocabulary 
a few words from my coming work on local names in general, 
selecting mainly from those which I have not seen published in any 
work easily accessible to the general reader. 



VOCABULARY, 



A. 

ABAQUA GE ; i. e., "a flaggy meadow:" the name of a pond in 
Conn., near the source of Little River. 

ABENA KES, ABANA KEK, or ABENA KISS, wabanung the east, or 
place of light, and akee land ; i, e., " the east land"; the name 
given to a large tribe of Indians, formerly inhabiting the extreme 
northeastern part of the U. S. 

ABRIGA DA, abrigaut ; i. e., "shelter," "hiding-place;" the 
name of a hill in Waterbury, Conn., having on its side a deep 
cavern-like cliff called "the Indian house;" whence the name. 

ABSF/CON, ABSE CUM, wabisee a swan, and ong for ink place; 
i. e., " the place of the swan;" the name of a creek in New Jersey. 

ABWOI NA, or ABWOINAC, abwoin a Sioux, and akee land ; i. e., 
" the land of the Sioux ; a term formerly applied in a general way 
to the country lying between the Miss, and the Mo. rivers, and 
north of the St. Peters river, formerly occupied by the Sioux. 

AC COMAC, acaiun-anke ; i. e., "on the other side," or "the 
other side land ;" the name of a peninsula east of Chesapeake Bay. 
This name was given by the Nanticoke Indians. Other authorities 
say the word is derived from aco limit, auk wood, and alike e 
land, and means, " the limit of the wood-land." 

ACE YEDAN; i. e., " place of weeping ;" so called by the Dakotah 
Indians, because of weeping there the death of some of their rela 
tives; the name of a large creek in N. W. Iowa. See Oce yedan. 

ACH V AFALAY A, hucha river, falaya long; i. e., " long river ;" 
the name of the principal western outlet of the Miss, river. The 
word is sometimes spelled Atchafalaya. 

(O 



2 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

ACH\>UAKENU NA, tach quach acan mena; i. e., " where pounding 
blocks are made," or "where we get the wood for pounding 
blocks," namely gum, which wood the Indians call tachquaha 
caniminschi. 

ACHQUANSCH ICOLA, ach quoanch icola / i. e., "the place from 
which we take fish by means of the bush nets." This spot is near 
the Lehigh Water Gap, west side of the river. 

ACHSIN NINK ; i. e., "standing stone;" the name of a place in 
Western Penna. The word is said to allude to a large rock stand 
ing separate, and where no others are near. 

ACH WICK, ACHWEEK; i. e., "bushy," "difficult to pass;" the 
name of a creek in Central Penna. 

ACKEEKSEE BE, akuk kettle, and sipi stream; i. e., "kettle 
stream;" the name of a northern tributary of Rum River, which 
enters the Miss, a few miles north of the Falls of St. Anthony. 

ACOM EQUES; i. e., "the land on the other side ;" the name of 
a district on the east side of the Thames river, in Conn., and near 
its mouth. 

ACOMES. This word is supposed to be derived from aco a 
bound, or point; and is thought to mean "a rest," or " a place of 
stopping ;" the name of a fall in the Amariscoggin river in Maine. 

ACQUAC KANONCK\ aco limit, misquak red cedar, auk wood, 
(stump, or trunk of tree;) i. e., " the limit of the red cedar stumps, 
or trunks ;" or possibly a better translation would be " the limit of 
the red cedar wood;" the name of a village on the Passaic river in 
N. J. 

ACQUI A, equiwi ; i. e., "between, or in between" (something.) 
Others say the word is derived from akki earth, and means liter 
ally " earthy, or muddy creek ;" the name of a creek in Va. 



AHIKI, or OUHEGEE, dhiiki; i. e., "Sweet potato mother:" the 
name of an eastern tributary of the Chattahoochee river. 

AISAHATCHA, itchi, or itche deer, and hatcha river; i. e., 
" Deer River. * This was formerly the name of a river in Fla. now 
ca AT hvr 1 isrwedi edlores from the Creek and Seminole. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 3 

ALABAM A, alba thicket, and ayalmu place cleared (of trees or 
underbrush;) i. e., " thicket clearers." The name was first applied 
to a tribe of Indians who formerly resided at the junction of the 
Tombigbee and the Coosa, or Alabama. 

ALGAN SEE, gan-lake, mushco-dainsee prairie; i.e., " the lake 
prairie," or the prairie resembling a lake;" the name of a town- 
township in Branch Co., Michigan. 

ALGONAC , algonkm akee ; i. e., "Algonquin Land;" the name 
of a village in St. Clair county, Michigan. 

ALGON KIN, ALLEGAN, sagiegan a lake : the name of an agricul 
tural and mining county in Michigan. 

ALLEGHE NY, welhik-hanne, or oolik-hanne ; i. e., the best, or 
the fairest stream." The foregoing is supposed to be the correct 
definition, derived from the language of the Delaware Indians. 

AL LUM, or WALLUM S POND; i. e., "the fox pond;" the name 
of a pond in the N. E., part of Conn. 

AMAKAL LI, or AMACALLEE, ama water, and kalola sliding, 
tumbling ; i. e., "the sliding or tumbling water;" the name of a 
tributary of the Flint Driver in Miss. 

AM BOY ; called by the Indians who dwelt there embote, which 
sig., if Indian, " round and hollow ;" the name of a town in N. J. 

AMENONOOSUC, namaes fish, hussan stone, uc place; i. e., 
" the stony fish place," or " the stony fish brook ;" the name of a 
western tributary of the Androscoggin River in N. H. 

AMIC WAYS, or AMICAWAES, amik a beaver. 
AMIKAIN DAND ; i. e., "beaver house;" the name of the most 
eastern of the Beaver Islands in Lake Michigan. 

AN DES, anta copper. This name was applied by the Indians 
to the mountains near Cuzco, the ancient capital of Peru. 

ANNEMO SING, annemose a young fox, ing (ink.) place; i. e., 
" the place of the young fox ;" the Indian name of the Fox Islands 
in Lake Michigan. 

ANO KA ; i. e., " on both sides;" the name of a village in Minn, 
on both sides of Rum River. 



4 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

APACH KS. This word is said to mean "men;" the name of a 
tribe of Indians. 

APPALA CHEE; supposed to be derived from apalatchi okli ; i. e., 
those (people) on the other side/ or " the people on the other 
side;" the term was formerly applied to a town on Appalachee 
Bay, Fla. It is now the name of a river in the northern part of 
Ga. 

APVALA V CHICO LA, cipalatchukla ; i. e., old town." This river 
was named after an Indian town formerly standing on its banks. 

APPOL KCON, apelogacan, or apillochgacan ; i. e., " from whence 
the messenger returned," possibly the way by which the messen 
ger returns." This word is from the Minsy a dialect of the Len- 
appe language. 

AQUAPAUK/SIT. This word probably means "at the end of a 
small pond ;" the name of a place in Conn. 

AQUAS QUIT, achowasquit ; i. e., "grassy," "overgrown with 
grass." 

AQUEB APAUG, AQUAB EPAUG. This word may mean either " be 
fore the pond," or the "pond before" some other pond; the 
name of a pond near the head of Pawcatuck river in R. I. 

ASH AWOG, ASSAWAUG, NASHAWOG ; i. e., the "place between 
two rivers," or the crotch of a river. This word is said to occur 
frequently in New England in various combinations. 

ASH OWUGH CUMMOCK E ; i. e., "the half way place," or "the 
place between ;" that is, " the island between the large island and 
the main land;" the name of an island near New London, Conn. 

ASPET UC, ASPAT OCK ; i. e., "a height ;" the name of a river in 
New Milford, Conn. There is a ridge dividing the two principal 
branches of this river, called Aspatuck Hill, and the probability is 
the river took its name from the hill. 

ASP ROOM ; i. e., "high," "lofty" or "elevated;" the name of 
a mountain in Conn. 

ASSAWAS SUC, assawa suck, or nashuae suck ; i. e., "the fork of 
the brook," or better " the place between the forks of the brook," 
the name of a place in E. Glastenbury, Conn. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 5 

ASSIN ABOINA, ossin a stone or stony, abwoina Sioux, akee 
earth or country; i. e., "the stony country of the Sioux." 

ASTEN ROGEN, osteura rock, oge in the water ; i. e., "the rock 
in the water; the Indian name for Little Falls, Herkimer Co., 
N. Y. 

A TE SI, a 1 tassa ; i. e., " war club ;" the name of a town in the In 
dian territory, called after an old town on the Tallapoosa River. 

ATTACAP AS ; i. e., " men eaters." This word was originally the 
name of an Indian tribe in the gulf states, and would indicate that 
its members practiced cannibalism. 

ATTAPUL GUS, itu pulga ; i. e., "boring holes into wood to make 
fire;" the name of a village in Decatur Co., Ga. 

B. 

BALD EAGLE CR., PA., was called by the Indians wapalanne was 
chiech hanne, i. e., " the stream whereon is the bald eagle s nest." 

BANT AM. This word may be derived from peantum, and if so 
it sig. "he prays," or "praying," meaning a Christian Indian ; at 
present the name of a small river in Conn. 

BEAVER DAM CREEK, in W. Penna., was called by the Indians 
amochk pah as ink ; i., e., " the place where the beaver have shut 
up the stream." 

BIG BEAVER RIVER was called by the Indians amochkwi sipu, or 
amochk hanne ; i. e., "beaver stream;" the name of a river in W. 
Penna. 

BIGTOOTH CREEK, Centre Co , Pa. , was called by the Indians 
mangipi sink ; i. e., "the place where big teeth are found." 

BILOX I, B LUKSI, luktchi turtle. The sig. of the particle B is 
lost, but the word has some allusion to the catch of turtles ; the 
name of a bay and town on the coast of Miss. 

BLACK LICK CREEK, in W. Penna., was called by the Indians 
naskaishoni ; i. e., "the lick of a blackish color." 

BROOK LYN, N. Y., or rather the place where that city stands, 
was called by the Indians mereychawick, from me the, reckwa 
sand, ick place or locality; i. e., " the sandy place." 



6 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

BUF FALO CREEK, W. Penna., was called by the Indians sisilic- 
hanne ; i. e., "the stream resorted to by the buffaloes." 

BUSHY CREEK, in W. Penna., was called by the Indians achemek ; 
i. e., "bushy," "difficult to cross." 

c. 

CAN ADA, kanata, or kanada ; i. e., " a village " or " a town." 

CANAJOHAR IE, kanada village, oquari a bear; i. e., " the -vil 
lage of the bear," others say the word means " the pot that washes 
itself;" the name of a town on the Mohawk river, N. Y. 

CANDOT O, candatowa ; i. e., "high land;" the name of the 
ridge upon which the town of Ridgefield, Conn, stands. 

CANKAPO/A ; i. e., "light wood ;" the name of a small lake at 
the head of Vermillion river, Dakota. 

CANNON PA ; i. e., "two woods;" the name of a chain of small 
lakes in E. Dakota ; so called on account of having two small groves 
of timber on their banks. 

CANNOUCH EE, from the Creek word ikano dshi ; i. e., "graves 
are there ;" the name of a river in Ga. 

CAPA GE, kuppaug, or kobpog; i. e., "an enclosed place." Pos 
sibly the name may have originally been applied to the Narrows, 
in the Naugatuck river at Beacon Hill, Conn. 

CASSACUB QUE, kussukobske ; i. e., "high rock;" the name of a 
great ledge of rocks in Colchester, Conn. 

CATASAU QUA, gattoshacki; i. e., "the earth is thirsty," "wants 
rain ;" the name at present of a town in Lehigh Co., Penna. 

CATAWIS SA, gatta wissi ; i. e., "becoming fat;" the name of a 
creek in Columbia Co., Penna., emptying into the Susquehanna 
near Bloomsburg. 

CAUCOMGO MIC, kau-kon-gumik ; i. e., "at the big gull lake;" the 
name of a lake in Me. 

CAUGH V NAVAG A ; i. e., "stone in the rapid water." Some 
writers say this word means coffin-shaped stone in the water ; the 
name of a town on the Mohawk river in N. Y. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 7 

CAW AN SHAN OCK, gawunscli-hanne ; i. e., "green briar stream;" 
the name of a creek in Armstrong Co., Pa. 

CAYUGA, or CYUGA, kaouhiokwen ; i. e., "canoes pulled out of 
water." Other authorities say this word sig. "long lake;" the 
name of a lake in N. Y. 

CEGA IYEYAP I; f. e., " kettles are found ;" the name of the lakes 
and country near Fort Wadsworth, Dakota. 

CHANHAS AN; i. e., "pale bark wood," "sugar tree;" the name 
of several small rivers in Minn, and Dakota. 

CHANK A ; i. e., "fire stone;" the name of a western tributary 
of the Dakota, formerly Jaques or James river ; so called from a 
very hard rock consisting of semifused or vitrified sand-stone, found 
near its mouth. 

CHAN V SHA V YAP I ; i. e., "red wood," literally "a post painted 
red ;" the name of a western tributary of the Minn. 

CHAN-SHU -SHKA ; i. e., "box elder;" the name of a tribe of 
Dakotas. 

CHANSSNSAN ; i. e., "tumbling," or "rapid;" the Dakota name 
for what is now called Dakota river. 

CHA PA ; i. e., "beaver;" the name of a river in Minn. 

CHASKE. This word is the name of a village on the Minn, river 
in Carver Co., Minn., and is the name of the first child of a woman, 
if a son ; if a daughter, the name would be Winona. 

CHASMU NA ; i. e., "sandy;" the name of a tribe of Dakotas. 
CHATTAHATCH EE ; i. e., "rock river, or rocky river." 

CHATTAHOO CHEE, CHATAHUCHI, tchatu rock, stone, hutchi 
marked, provided with signs; i. e., "pictured rocks;" the name 
of a large river of Ga. 

CHATTANOO GA, said to mean "crow s nest;" the name of a 
creek in Ga. ; also the name of a city in Tennessee. 

CHAUTAU QUA; i. e., "foggy place;" the name of a lake in the 
S. W. part of N. Y. Probably the name was first applied to some 
portion of its shores. 



8 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

CHEESECHANKAM UCK ; i. e., "the great fishing place at the 
wier;" the name of the east branch of Farmington river, Conn. 

CHEH TAN BEH, or CHETAN BE; i. e., "sparrow hawk s nest;" 
the name of a tributary of the Minn, river. 

CHES APEAKE, che or f chi great, sepe or sipi water stretched 
out, ahki place; i. e., " the place where there is a great body of 
still water stretched out." Another definition from pretty good 
authority, is "superior saltish bay." 

CHEPACH ET; i. e., "a place of separation," as where a stream 
divides ; the name of a creek and village in R. I. 

CHEYENN E, SHAIENNA or SHYENNE ; i. e., "speaking a different 
language;" the name originally of a tribe of Indians recognized as 
a part of the great Dakota family, although their language indicated 
that they sprang from the Chippewa or Algonkin stock. 

CHICA GO, chicagowunzh; i. e., "the wild onion or leek." 
Kaug, in the Algonkin, sig. "porcupine," and she-kaug "pole 
cat." The analogy between those words is apparent; but whether 
the onion was named before or after the animal we leave our read 
ers to investigate for themselves, that field of inquiry lying beyond 
the scope of the present work. 

The probability is, however, that where the great city of Chicago 
now stands the wild onion once held undisputed sway. 

CHICKAHOM INY, chik-amaw-hony ; i. e., "turkey lick," or "the 
lick at which the turkeys are plenty ; " the name of a river in Va. 

CHICKAMAU GA ; said to mean " river of death;" the name of a 
small river of Ga. and Tenn. 

CHICKEMAX EN, chicke -big, maxen or moxen a moccasin; i. e., 
big moccasin. 

CHICONES SE, chic-onas-ink ; i. e., "the place where it was forci 
bly taken from us, against our will." 

CHICK HANSENK\ tschink hansink , i. e. , "where we were robbed," 
or " the place where the robbery was committed." 

CHICOM ICO, che great, comaco house, or enclosed place ; i e , 
"the great house;" possibly the house of a Sachem. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 9 

CHIK NICOM IKA now CHICACOMICO, tschik enumike ; i. e., "the 
place of turkeys," or "the place where turkeys are plenty;" the 
name of a stream on the eastern shore of Maryland. 

CHIKISALUN GA, chik is walunga ; supposed to mean " place of 
crabs, or crab-fish," or "the creek on which the ground is full of 
holes made by the crab-fish." Others say the word means "long 
piece of land where rabbits burrow." The word is now the name 
of a creek in Lane. Co., Pa. 

CHILESQUA QUE, chelesuage ; i. e., "resort of snowbirds;" the 
name of a creek in Northumberland Co., Pa. 

CHIN KE CLA MOO SE, aehts-chingi-clamme ; i. e., "it almost meets 
together," or "nearly joins." 

CHIP^PAQUID DICK, or CHIPPOQUIDDICK, cheppi-aquidne ; i. e., 
"separated island: " the name of an island separated by a narrow 
strait from Martha s Vineyard. 

CHIP PEWAY, oshib wah; i. e., " he overcomes," not in battle 
only, but in any undertaking, or " he surmounts obstacles." 

CHISSENES SICK, chuessenesik ; i. e., "the place of blue birds," 
or "the place where blue birds flock together;" the name of a 
river in Va. 

CHOHWAJ ICA ; i. e., "willow;" the name of several streams and 
lakes in Minn. 

CHO KIN ; i. e., "roasting," or "the place of the roasting;" the 
name of a lake in Minn., near the Mayauakan River, probably so 
called from the Dakotas roasting here, teepoinna, a root much used 
by them for food, and found in great abundance on its banks. 

CHOWAN , chawwanoke ; i. e., "south, or southern country." 
The name was applied to this stream by Capt. John Smith. It 
was, however, applied by the Powhatans and neighboring tribes of 
Va., to the country south of them; the name of a river of Va. and 
N. C. flowing into Albemarle Sound. 

CHUQUISA CA; i. e., "bridge of gold" in the Quinchua Indian 
dialect. This word is the name of the present capital of Bolivia 
on the Rio de la Plata, a small tributary of the Cachimayo. 
There is a ford on the river at this point across which vast treas- 



10 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

ures were formerly carried by the Incas of Peru, on their way to 
Cuzco. From this circumstance the name is supposed to have been 
derived. 

CHY GOES, tschich ohaiki ; i. e., "the oldest planted ground;" 
the Indian name of the place where Bennington, N. J., now 
stands. 

CICOUES SING, kikous fish, ink place ; i. e., " the fishing place ;" 
the Indian name of Lewis Creek, Del. 

COAQUAN NOK; i. e., "grove of tall pine trees;" I think this 
name was applied by the Indians to the spot where Philad. now 
stands. This place was subsequently called by them quak al nunk ; 
i. e., "place of Quakers." 

COASSAT TUCK, kowas htugk ; i. e., "pine wood;" the name of 
a hill in N. Stonington, Conn. 

COCAL ICO/ i. e., "where snakes gather together in holes or 
dens" to pass the winter; the name of a creek in Lancaster Co., 
Pa. 

COCHABAM BA ; i. e., "the granary;" a department of Bolivia 
rich in agricultural products, lying east of the Andes. 

COCH IKU ACK; i. e., "a wild, dashing stream." 

COCOO SING, gok-hos-ing, or gok-hos-ink ; i. e., "place of owls;" 
the name of a small stream that rises in Montville, Conn., and flows 
into the Thames river. 

CODO RUS. It is said this word means "rapid water." It is 
probably of Iriquois origin; the name of a stream in southern 
Penna. on which the town of York is located. An older orthog 
raphy is C adores. 

COHOCK SINK, cuwen-hack-ink ; i. e., "at the fine pine lands." 

CONCHAR DEE, kanshade ; i. e., "red dirt," "red earth;" a word 
of Creek origin and now the name of a place a few miles west of 
Talladega, Alabama. 

CON EAUET LAKE ; i. e., " snow lake;" the name of a lake in W. 
Penna. 

CON EDOGWIN IT, or CONODOGUINIT ; i. e., "for a long way noth- 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. I I 

ing but bends," "continual bends;" the name of a stream in 
Cumbl d Co., Pa. 

CON EMAUGH; i. e., otter creek :" a stream in W. Penna. flow 
ing into the Kiskeminets River. 

CONEQUENES SING; i. e., "for a long way straight," or "run 
ning a straight course;" the name of a creek in Butler Co., Pa. 

CONESTO GO. It may be that this word which is generally sup 
posed to be of Iriquoi origin, is a corruption of canastagiowne ; i. e., 
"the great magic land;" the English settlers applying the name 
to the stream ; the name of a creek flowing through a most charm 
ing section of Lan. Co., Pa. 

CONEWA GO, gune uage ; i. e., a " long strip," or " long reach ;" 
the name of a large creek in Dauphin Co., Pa. The probability is 
the name was first applied to a district near Middletown, in Dau 
phin Co., Pa., now also the name of rapids in the Susquenanna 
near Middletown, and also the name of a creek in York Co., Pa., 
flowing into this river near those rapids. 

CONEWAN GO ; i. e., "they have been long gone;" the name of 
a creek flowing into the Alleghany river in Warren Co., Pa. 

CONEWAN TA, guneunga ; i. e., " they staid long time away." 

CONNECT ICUT, Quinmtuk ; i. e., " land on the long tidal river," 
or "land on the river without end, with tides." 

CONECOCHEAGUE, (KonVko-cheeg ) ; i. e., " indeed a long way." 
The word seems to refer to some occasion when a party of Indians 
became impatient of travel ; the name of a stream in Franklin Co., 
Pa. 

COOKQUA GO, kekoa, okowa an owl, and goa big; i. e., "big 
owl ;" the name of the west branch of the Delaware river. 

Coos ; a Lenappe word, sig. "pines," or " the pines." 

CORAPECH EN, cola pechen ; i. e., "fierce running stream ;" the 
name of a creek in Md. 

COSHEC TON; supposed to sig "finished small harbor." 

Cow AMPS, COWOMPSQUE, can ompsk ; i. e., "a whet-stone," or 



12 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

rock suitable for that purpose ; the name of a place on the south 
side of Potatuck river in Conn. 

COWANES QUE; i. e., "briery," " thornbushy ;" the name of a 
creek in N. Penna. 

COWAS SIT, COWISSECK ; i. e., a "place of small pine trees." 
The name is now applied to a small stream in Conn. 

COWAUT ACUCK, kowaw-lugk-auk ; i. e., "pine wood land." 
The word is at present the name of a small river in Conn. 

COW WAUS ; i. e., "pine land;" the name of a rugged tract in 
Conn., near New London. 

CROOKED CREEK, PA., was called by the Indians woak-hanne ; 
i. e., "crooked stream." 

CROSS CR. IN WASH. Co., PA. The Indian name of this stream 
was wewunsschi saquik ; i. e., "two streams emptying themselves 
into a river on opposite sides." 

CUN NEYAUT, CUNNEAUT, gunneate ; i. e., "it is long since they 
went ;" the name of a creek in N. Penna. 

CUP PACOM MUCK ; i. e., " a close place," "a hiding place ;" the 
name of a swamp in Conn. 

CUPSUP TIC; i. e., "the act of drawing a sieve while fishing;" 
the name of the most northern of the Umbagog chain of lakes in 
Maine. 

CUSSAWA GO ; i. e., "snake with big belly;" the name of a 
creek in Crawford Co. , Pa. 

CUSSE TA, hasi hta; i. e., "coming from the sun." The word 
is at present the name of a town in Ala. 

D. 

DAHLON EGA, tau-lau-ne-ca ; i. e., "yellow money;" the name 
of a village in Ga., near the richest gold mines in the State. 

DAKO TA; i. e., " many in one government." It will be ob 
served this word is the equivalent of our E pluribus unum. This is 
the name by which the largest tribe or nation of Indians in the 
U. S. call themselves. They were formerly better known by the 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 13 

name of the Sioux. The name is said to have been assumed be 
cause the nation consists of many tribes. 

DEL AWARE RIVER. The Indians are said to have called this 
stream the kit-hanne ; i. e., " the largest stream." 

DETROIT was called by the Indians teuch sa grandie, also wa-we- 
tun ong, both words sig. "the place of the turned channel." It 
has been remarked by many visitors who reached this place by boat 
at night, or in dark weather, or who were inattentive to the cur 
rents, that owing to the extraordinary involutions of those currents, 
the sun appears to rise in the wrong place. 

E. 

EEL RIVER, IND. This river was called by the Indians shoa- 
maque ; i. e., " slippery fish," possibly equivalent to a translation. 

ELK CREEK, WASH. Co., IND., was called by the Indians moos- 
hanne ; i. e., "elk stream." Moos is the name for elk in the Del 
aware language. 

ELK LICK CREEK, in Penna., called by the Indians mosi-mahon- 
hanne ; i. e., "elk lick stream." 

E QUINUNK ; i. e., " the place where the wearing apparel is dis 
tributed ;" the name of a town in Wayne Co., Pa., on the Dela 
ware river. 

ES QUIMAUX, from the Algonkin word eskimautick^; i. e., "eaters 
of raw fish." 

ES^TABO GA, isti people, apokita to reside; i. e., "where peo 
ple reside ;" the name of a town on the Coosa river, Alabama. 

EYOTA . It is probable this word is a corruption of lyotan, a 
Dakota word sig. "greatest," or "the greatest;" the name of a 
village near the boundary line between Iowa and Minn. 

F. 

FINHOL OWAY, fin-hd-lui; i. e., "high bridge," or "high foot 
log ;" the name of a swamp in Ga. 

FISHING CREEK, IN CENTRE Co., PA., was called by the Indians 
namaes-hanne ; i. e., " fish stream." 



14 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

FRANKFORD CREEK in E. Penna., was called by the Indians win- 
gohocking, or wingehocking ; i. e., "choice spot of ground for culti 
vation," "a favorite spot for planting." Of course allusion is had 
to the fertile banks of the stream. 

G, 

GANGAS COE, shin-gas-cui ; i. e., "level and boggy." 

GASCON SAGE ; i. e., " the perpendicular falls," now Rochester, 
N. Y. 

GICHTH HANNK ; " largest stream in the place or parts." 
GOOKHO SING ; i. e., "habitation of owls," or "place of owls." 
GUKNT ICO, guentican ; i. e., "dancing," place of frolicking." 

H. 

HACK ENSACK, supposed to be derived from haucquan-sauk ; i. e., 
"hook mouth;" the name of the channel by which the waters of 
Newark Bay find their way around Bergen Point to New York 
Bay. Shok or sank is a root denoting "to pour out," or "pour 
ing out." Others say this word is derived from hack-ink-sa-quink t 
and sig. "a stream which unites with another stream in a low place 
or on low ground, that discharges almost imperceptibly into anofher 
stream." 

HACK INGSACK, hacking low, aki land; i. e., "low land." 

HANNE, HANNA, HANNOK generic terms in the Delaware lan 
guage for stream. 

HAS ACK, ossum stone, ack place; i. e., "the place of the 
stones," or " the stony place." 

HAT CHIE or HAT CHEE, a generic term in the Creek and Chero 
kee languages sig. stream (creek or river). In the Seminole dia 
lect it is said to mean "little river." 

HAT TERAS. I am inclined to the opinion that this word was 
originally the name of a tribe of Lenappe Indians, and was given 
to the Cape by the English. 

HAY TI, said to mean " high land," " mountainous country." It 
was called by Columbus, its discoverer, Hispanola i. e., "Little 
Spain." 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 15 

HEHDO KA, or REHDOKA; i. e., "gap in the mountain;" the 
name of a place where there is a depression or gap in the contour 
of the prairie near the line between Minn, and Iowa. 

HEI PA or REI PA ; i. e., "head of the mountain." 

HIGGAN UM ; i. e., "at the ax or tomahawk rock ;" the name of 
a brook and village in Haddam, Conn. 

HO BO KEN, hopecan ; i. e., " smoke pipe," others say "tobacco 
pipe," the name of a town on the Hudson, in New Jersey. 

HOCCAN UM or HOCKAN UM, hocquaum ; i. e., " hook," or " hook 
shaped ;" the name of a river in E. Hartford, Conn. 

HOCK^ENDOC QUE ; "searching for land." 

HO KA; i. e., "horn;" the name of a small tributary of the 
Miss, near its source. 

HOCK HOCK ING ; i. e., "place of the gourd which resembles a 
bottle;" Achsinmmk or standing stone ; the name of a locality in 
Bradford Co., Pa.; also the name of a river in eastern Ohio. 

HOK AMAN ; i. e., "where herons set, or breed;" the name of 
several lakes in Minn. 

HOP PENY CREEK, hoblenisink ; i. e., "potato creek, or the creek 
where the wild potato grows ;" the name of a creek in N. E. Penna, 

HOUSATON IC, wnssi aderic nk ; i. e., "the river beyond the 
mountain." This river is in the western part of Conn, immediately 
west of a mountain range. 

HUDSON RIVER. This stream was called by the Delaware In 
dians Mohicannet tuck ; i. e., the river of the Mohicans. 

I. 

I DAHO; said to mean " the gem of the mountain." 

IMNIJ A, or EMNEJ A ; i. e., "rock," properly "a rock washed 
by water :" the name of a village in Dakota on the Big Sioux river. 

IMNIJ A-SKA\ or EMNIJASKA ; i. e., "white rock;" the Dakota 
name for the city of St. Paul, Minn. 

INK PA, eenk-pah ; i. e., "end," or "point ;" the name of a trib- 



1 6 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

utary of the Minn., entering from the southwest near Lac qui 
Parle, which was formerly considered the head or end of the Minn, 
river. 

IN YAN-BOSDA TA, or ENYAN-BOSDATA ; i. e., "stone standing 
on end;" the Dakota name for Cannon river in Neb., and the 
name of a village near it. 

INYAN REAKAH ; i. e., " river of the rock;" the name of a river 
in Minn. 

IN YAN-SHAH-SHAH-WAK PA ; i. e., "river of red stones;" the 
Dakota name for the Des Moines river. 

IN YAN-TANK-INK-IN YAN-AIDE ; i. e., "lake of big stones;" so 
called from the rocky mounds found near the lower end of the lake; 
the name of a lake in Minn. 

IN YAN-YAN KE; i. e., "stones there;" the Indian name of the 
Little Sioux river. 

IO WA. The sig. of this word is obscure, but it is supposed to 
be derived from the Dakota word ayuhba ; i. e., "drowsy." The 
name was applied by the Dakotas to several Indian tribes. 

IPAK SHAN; i. e., "crooked;" the Dakota name for the Big 
Sioux. 

ISAX , inyan-sa pa, or isanyati ; i. e., "pale stone;" the name of 
a small lake near the head of Rum river in Minn., upon the banks 
of which probably were found the flint from which the Dakotas 
made their knives and hatchets, as the word isan is now said to 
sig. knife in their language. 

IZTACCIHUATL, ees-tahk-see-hwcih? I ; i. e., "White Lady." This 
mountain with the mountain of Popocatepetl forms the twin vol 
canic mountains of Mexico. 

IZU ZA; i. e., "white stone;" the name of a tributary of the 
Minnesota entering that stream a short distance below Big Stone 
Lake. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 17 

J- 

JAMAI CA; a corruption of Xayamaca; i. e., "land of wood and 
water;" the name of one of the most delightful of the W. I. 
islands. 

JAMES RIVER, VA. The Indians called this stream pawat-hanne, 
i. e., "the river of pregnancy." The noted chief Powhatan is 
supposed to have been named after the stream. 

K. 

KANDIZO HI, kandi buffalo-fish, izohi come to, or come into ; 
i. e., "that which the buffalo-fish come into;" the name of a lake, 
and now of a county in Minn. 

KATAH DIN, kata-adeni; i. e. , " the greatest, or chief mountain ;" 
the name of the highest mountain in Maine. 

KATCH ENAHA ; i. e., "turkey lake;" the name of a lake in 
Florida. 

KEAR SARGE, koowass-adchu ; i. e., "sharp or pointed pine 
mountain," or merely "the notched, or peaked mountain;" the 
name of a mountain in N. H. 

KEHT HAN NE ; i. e., "principal or greatest stream." This 
name was given by the Lenappe Indians to the Delaware river. 
The same .name is said to have been given by the Delawares on the 
banks of the Ohio, to that stream. 

KEN NEBEC V , quinni-nippi-ohke, or quinni-pi-ohki ; i. e., "long 
water place;" the name of a river of New England. 

KENOS HA ; i. e., "a pickerel;" the name of a town on the 
western shore of Lake Michigan. 

KENTUCK Y. Some suppose this word to be derived from kentake- 
kowa ; i. e., " the prairies. "Other authority says that the word is 
from the Shawnee language and sig. "at the head of a river." 

KEN ZUA, or KENJUA, kents-chuak ; i. e., " they gobble;" that 
is, "the wild turkeys gobble;" the name of a creek in central 
Penna. 

2 



1 8 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

KEWEE NAW, kewa-ue-nau ; i. e., " the place where we cross by 
land carrying the canoe ;" the name of a peninsula in the north 
ern part of Mich. It is probable the name was first applied to 
some narrow portage on this peninsula. 

KIGISCHGOT UM, or KIGISCHKOTUM ; the Indian name for the 
katydid. 

KIKITSCH IMUS, kik-itsch-emuis ; i. e., "deer creek." 

KISCHICOQUIL IS, gischi already, achgook snakes, walicu in 
dens; i. e., "the snakes have already got into their dens;" the 
name of a creek in MifHin Co., Pa. 

KISKATA^MEN AKOOK, keskatonunakanke ; i. e., "the place of 
shelled nuts;" the name of a locality near the Catskill mountains, 
N. Y. 

KIS^KIMIN ETAS, giesh-gumanito ; i. e., "make daylight." Tra 
dition says a warrior encamping on its banks said this during the 
night to his comrades, so impatient was he to move forward ; the 
name of a stream in Armstrong Co., Penna. 

KITCH^I GAM I, or KECHE GUMMIE ; i. e., "the great or chief 
lake;" the Chippewa name for Lake Superior. 

KITCHOPATAKI, kitchu maize-pounding (block of wood,) pataki 
spreading out; i. e., "where the Maize Wood river is spread 
out;" the name of a tributary of the Tallapoosa river. 

KIT TA ; a generic term in the Delaware language sig., " great," 
or "very great," or "large/ E. G. Kish-an-ink large place. 

KIT N TAHIC AN ; i. e., "the great ocean." 

KITTAN NING, kit-hanne ; i. e., "large stream," or "the place 
on the largest stream ;" the name of the capital of Armstrong Co., 
Penna. 

KIT TATIN NY, kit-adini, or kata-adini ; i. e., "the greatest, or 
chief mountain ;" the name of an extensive mountain range in E. 
Penna., containing the Delaware and Lehigh water gaps. 

KIT TATON, kitchc great, or big, otan town or village; i. e., 
" the great town or village ;" at present the name of a creek in 
Va., entering the Potomac opposite Point of Rocks; probably so 
named on account of an Indian village on its banks. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 19 

KIT TEMAUG\ kehte-amaug; i. e., great fishing place;" the 
name of a locality on the east bank of the Thames river in Conn. 

KO KOMO ; i. e., "young grandmother; " the name of a town in 
Indiana. 

KUT TUCK, kehtetuk ; i. e., "great river;" the Indian name of 
the Blackstone river in Conn, 

KU WEN-HAN NE ; i. e., "stream running through pine trees." 

L. 

LACKVMIS SA ; leganimksa ; i. e., "the sandy ground." 

LACK AWAN NA, techau-hanne ; i. e., "forked stream," or "the 
stream that forks; " the name of a creek in Eastern Penna. flowing 
into the Susquehanna above Wilkesbarre. 

LACK AUWAX EN, lachauweksink ; i. e., "at the forks of the 
road ; " the name of a river in Pike Co., Pa.; named probably by 
the English after a locality, now a town, of the same name, where 
it empties into the Delaware. 

LACK^AWAN AK, LACK\AWAN NOCK, lechau-hannock ; i. e., "the 
forks of the two streams," or "the place of the fork." The Lacka- 
wannock mountain in Eastern Penna. originates at the junction of 
the Lackawanna river with the Susquehanna, and from its location 
at the fork of those streams may be said to have an appropriate 
name. 

LAP^PAHAN INK ; i. e., " the place where the tide water comes to 
and where it runs off again." Compare with Rappahannock. 

LAWUN AK HAN NOK; i. e., " middle stream." 

LECHAU HAN NE ; i. e., "the forks occasioned by the confluence 
of two streams," as is the case where the Lehigh (Jechaii) falls into 
the Delaware. The place where Easton, Pa., now stands, was called 
by the Delaware Indians lechau wit auk; i. e., "the town within 
the fork." 

LEECH LAKE, MINN. The Indian name for this lake is gah-suh- 
gus-gwah-che-ma-kang ; i. e., " the place of leeches." 

LE HIGH, or LECH A. Neither of these words is the proper Indian 



20 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

name for this river, although the first is generally supposed to be. 
The words Icchauweki and lech-au-wicch-ink, or lechauwekink, point 
to and are descriptive of a crossing place on the Lehigh river much 
used by the Indians in their journeyings to and from the lower parts 
of the Delaware. 

LEN NI LENAP PE ; i. e., " original, or unmixed men," originally, 
perhaps " manly men ;" the name of a very large family of Indians, 
in general terms inhabiting the eastern portion of the U. S., from 
Maine to South Carolina. 

LICKING CREEK, PA., was called by the Indians mahonink ; i. e., 
" the place of the lick." 

LITTLE BEAVER CREEK, in Western Penna., was called by the 
Indians tankamock-hanne ; i. e., "little beaver stream." 

LITTLE BRIAR CREEK, PA., was called by the Indians tanga- 
wunseh-hanne ; i. e., "little briar stream." 

LITTLE CON EMAUGH, in W. Penna., was called by the Indians 
sangi-guna-mochki ; i. e., "little otter creek." 

LITTLE MASHAN ON ; tank-imos-hanne ; i. e., " little elk stream;" 
the name of a creek in Centre Co,, Pa. 

LOA V CHAPO KA, lutcha terrapin, poka killing-place i. e., "the 
place where terrapins are killed ; at present the name of a town in 
Macon Co., Ala. 

LONOT O CREEK, in Ga.; from lonoto flint; i. e., " Flint creek," 
an affluent of Flint river, Ga. This word is the Indian name for 
that river. 

LQOSH TOOK; i. e., "long river;" the name of the principal 
river of New Brunswick; better known as St. John s river. 

LOYALHAN NA, laweel-hanne ; i. e., " middle stream ;" the name 
of a creek in Westmoreland Co., Penna., which, uniting with the 
Conemaugh, forms the Kiskiminetas river. 

LOY ALSOCK CREEK, LYCOMING Co., PA.; from lawi-saquik ; 
i. e., "the creek that empties itself between others," or "middle 
creek." 

LYCOM ING, legaui-hanne ; i. e., "sandy creek," or "sandy 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 21 

stream," more properly; the name of a creek in Central Penna. 
flowing into the West Branch of the Susquehanna. 

M. 

MACH EMOOD US, matche-mddose ; i. e., "there is a bad noise," 
or " the place of bad noises ;" the name of a locality in East Had- 
dam, Conn. 

MACH HAN NE ; i. e., "the large, or largest stream;" the name 
given to the largest of the three streams which unite to form the 
Lehigh river. 

MACHIGAM MI ; i. e., "large lake;" the name of a lake in north 
ern Wisconsin. 

MACHIGAM IG, witchi-gaming ; i. e., " large lake," or " large lake 
stream;" the name of the stream flowing from Lake Michigammi, 
in Wis. 

MACKIAPIER, machkkeabi ; i. e., middle water. 

MACUN GY, mack-hein schi; i. e., " the harboring, or feeding place 
of bears;" at present the name of a township in Lehigh Co., Pa. 

MAC OPANACK HAN, muchop-pen-ackhan ; i. e., "the large potato 
stem." 

MAGATANKA MDE; i. e., "swan lake;" the name of a lake in 
Nicollet Co., Minn. 

MAGOT TY or MAGOTHY, mequkty ; i. e., "a small plain or prai 
rie devoid of timber ; " the name of a river in Md. 

MAHANOY ; a corruption from mahoni a lick; the name of a 
stream in Central Pa. 

MAHANTAUGO; from mohantaugo ; i. e., "where we had plenty of 
meat to eat;" the name of a stream in Dauphin Co., Pa. 

MAHMAN SUCK; i. e., "a place where two streams meet," or pos 
sibly " a brook containing two ponds." 

MAHON ING, or MAHO NY, mahonink ; i. e., "the place of the 
lick," or "at the lick;" the name of a creek emptying into the 
Allegheny river in Armstrong Co., Pa. 



22 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

MAKA GI ; i. e., " brown earth ;" the name of a western triubu- 
tary of the Minn. 

MAK A MDE ; i. e., "sunk lake;" the name of a lake in Dakota. 

MAK IAP IER, machkiabi ; i. e., "water of a reddish color;" the 
name of a pond in N. J. 

MAKU A ; i. e., "bear," or " a bear;" the name of a town on 
the shore of Lake Michigan. 

MAMAR ONECK ; named from Mamaronock, a chief of the Wiqua- 
eskeck Indians ; the name of a town in Westchester Co. N. Y. 

MAN ADY, or MANADA, menathey ; i. e., "an island;" the name 
of a creek in Dauphin county, Pa. 

MAN AHAN, menehund ; i. e., "where liquor has been drunk;" 
the name of a place in Centre Co., Pa. 

MANAL TON, menaltink ; i. e., "at the place where we drank 
liquor to excess;" the name of a place in Western Pa. 

MAN ATAUCK ; i. e. , a place of observation," a "look-out place;" 
the name of a high hill in Waterford, Conn., in full view of L. I., 
Sound. 

MANATAW NY, menhaltanink ; i. e., " where we drank" (liquor); 
the name of a creek and town in Berks Co., Pa. 

MANHAN NOCK, munnohan-auke ; i. e., "island place;" a section 
of Gastonbury, Conn., formerly an island in the Conn, river. 

MANHAT TAN, munnohan, or mandates; i. e., "the island." 
This word munnohan is a generic term sig. island. New York 
island was sometimes spoken of by the Indians as the island. 

MANHUMS QUEEG ; i. e., "in the whetstone country;" the name 
of a locality in Conn. 

MANITOW AH ; i.e., " the spirit bow." 

MANKA TO; i. e., "earth blue," or more properly "earth 
green ;" the name of a river and town in Minn. 

MAN OKIN, msnach-ink ; i. e., "an enclosed place ;" the Indian 
name of a river in Md. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 23 

MANON IETY, mahonitty ; i. e., "quite small lick."- 

MANUS SING, munnohan ; i. e., "an island," or " the island ;" 
the name of an island in Long Island Sound, N. Y. 

MANAYUNK , mene-iunk ; i. e., "place of rum," or "place of 
drinking liquor;" a locality within the present limits of Philad., Pa. 

MASGEEK^HAN NE ; i. e., "a stream flowing through swampy 
ground;" the name of a stream on Broad Mountain south of 
Scranton, Pa. 

MASHOPE, masch-api ; i. e., "beads of glass;" the name of a 
locality in Pike county, Pa., present orthography masthope. 

MASSA CHAUG V ; This word is probably derived from muskechoge ; 
i. e., " place where rushes grow ; " the name of a pond in R. I. 

MAS SAPAUG, MASHAPAUG, MASHPAUG, MASSAPOGUE, MUSSAPOG, 
mash or mass great or large, paug water at rest; i. e., "the 
great standing water;" occurring frequently as Indian names of 
ponds in Conn, and R. I. 

MASSACHUSETTS, massa great, adchu mountain, et near, in 
the vicinity; i. e., "near the great hill or mountain." It is said 
Roger Williams obtained from the Indians the phrase, "the blue 
hills," as a definition to this word, which was suggested by the 
appearance of an island off the coast. 

MAS SAPEAG, MASHPEAG, massa-peauk ; i. e., " great water land," 
or " land on the great cove ; " the name of a locality in Montville, 
Conn. 

MASHAMOQ UET, massa-amaug-ut ; i. e., "at the great fishing 
place;" at present the name of a brook in Pomfret, Conn. 

MAS SAWAM ASOG, massa-womussuk ; i. e., "great declivity," 
"steep hillside or bank." This name is now applied to a brook 
and cove west of the Thames river in Montville, Conn. 

MATCH ACH PONE; i. e., "bad bread." The English word pone, 
a bread made from ground corn, may have been derived from this 
Indian word pone. 

MATACOM ACOK : i. e., "bad place land," or possibly "where 
the path is bad ;" the name of a locality in Windsor Bounds, Conn. 



24 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

MATCH ACOMOCA, matachgenimoah ; i. e., "they are counselling 
about war/ " a council of war." 

MATCHOPUNGO, matschipungo ; i. e., "bad powders," or "bad 
ashes" (unfit for baking bread). 

MATOMKIN, mattemikin ; i. e., " to enter a house." 

MATTAPOI SET ; supposed to be derived from massabeset ; i e., " a 
place at a great rivulet or brook ;" the name of a river and town in 
Mass. 

MATTAP ONY, mattah-pona ; i. e., "no bread at all to be had;" 
the name of a river in the S. E. part of Va. 

MAT TAWAKS, meteaukock ; i. e., "the periwinkle;" the Indian 
name for Long Island. Here the Indians are said to have obtained 
the material for their wampum. 

MAT TITUCK ; i. e., "place without wood," or "land not 
wooded ;" the name of a village on Long Island. 

MAUCH CHUNK , machk bear, tschunk at or near the moun 
tain ; i. e., "the bear mountain," or "at, or on the bear moun 
tain;" the name of the county seat of Carbon Co., Pa. 

MAX ITAW NY, or MAXITAWENY, machkset-hanne ; i. e., "bear s 
path stream ;" the name of a creek in Berks Co., Pa. 

MAY AIMI ; supposed to be derived from the Creek words, mahi 
very large, and uiwa, (guevu) water; i. e., "very large 
water;" the name of a lake in Fla. 

MVva WAK EN ; i. e., " sacred, or mysterious banks;" the name 
of the largest northern tributary of the Minn., more frequently 
called the Chippewa river. 

MAY LUCK; a corruption from the Indian words namareek-roake, 
or namelake derived from name auke ; i. e., "fishing place;" the 
name of a small stream in East Windsor, Conn. 

MAZOMAN I ; i. e., "walks in metal;" the name of a town in 
Wisconsin named after an Indian chief. 

MEECH-HANNE; i. e., "main stream;" the name applied by the 
Indians to the largest arm of the Lehigh river flowing between 
Monroe and Lackawanna counties, Pa. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 25 

MENAL TIN, menaltink ; i. e., " the place where we drank liquor 
to excess." 

MEN AN, (Grand Menan), munnohan ; i. e., " the island." The 
word grand is an English prefix ; the name of an island opposite 
Pas samoquoddy Bay. 

MENASH A; i. e., "a thorn ;" the name of a town in Winnebago 
Co., Wisconsion. 

MENHEE RING, or MENHERRIN, menhattink ; i. e., "on the 
island ; " the name of a stream in S. E. Va. 

MENUN KETUCK, munnahquohteau ; i. e., "that which fertilizes 
or manures land." The word menhaden is supposed to be a corrup 
tion of the same word. The word menunhetuck is the Indian name 
for Guilford West River, in Conn. From a tradition we learn that 
some of the Indian tribes of Conn, residing on the larger streams 
used fish, when obtainable, for fertilizing purposes. 

MEREY CHA WICK, me the, reckwa sand, ick place, or lo 
cality; i. e., "the sandy place;" the Indian name of the place 
where Brooklyn, N. Y., now stands. The probability is the name 
was first applied to the sandy beach. 

MESHOPPEN, from maschapi ; i. e., " glass beads ; " the name of 
a stream flowing into the Susquehanna in Wyoming Co., Pa. It is 
said the name was given to commemorate a distribution of such 
trinkets, as glass beads among the Indians. 

MESON GO, or MESON GE, meschaugo, or me s change ; i. e., "where 
we killed deer," "good hunting ;" the name of a creek in Md. 

MEX ICO; named after Mexitli, the Aztec war-god. 

MIAN US; i. e., "he who gathers together." The little river in 
Conn, to which this name is now applied, and the neck of land at 
its junction with the Coscob cove, were so called from the Indian 
proprietor, Mayan no, or Mayen e. 

MICH IGAN; i. e., "great water;" the name of one of the largest 
lakes in N. A. 

MILWAU KEE, me-no-ah-ke ; i. e., "good land;" the name of a 
city of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan. 



26 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

MINISENK, mins-ink ; i. e., "the place of the Minsies" or " the 
home of the Minsies." The original seat of the Minsi tribe of the 
Lenappe Indians was in the upper valleys of the Delaware river. 

MIN NAHAUOCK , menahan an island, uck place; i. e., "at the 
island," or "the island home." This was the Indian name of 
Blackwell s Island near the city of New York. 

MIN NECHAUG, minne-adchu-auke ; i. e., "huckleberry hill ;" the 
name of a district of Glastonbury, Conn. 

MIN NEHA HA, minni water, ihaha to smile; i. e., "smiling 
water." This word is usually, but erroneously, translated laugh 
ing water. Ha sig. "to curl," and ihaha, to smile. In smiling, 
the lip curls. The name of falls in the Miss, river in Minn. 

MIN NESO TA, minni water, sofa slightly whitish; i. e., 
"slightly whitish water." This word, however, is usually defined 
"clear water." Originally this word was the name of several lakes 
in Minn. It is supposed these waters owe their slightly whitish hue 
to the presence of carbonate of lime. 

MINNI SKA; i. e., "clear water;" the name of a tributary of the 
Minnesota river. 

MINNI SNI; i. e., "cold water;" the name of a town in Minn., 
so called from a cold spring near by. 

MIS PAU, me the, espau raccoon; i. e., "the raccoon;" the 
name of a tributary of the Delaware river. 

MIS QUAM ICUK, SQUOM ACUK, mishquamaug; i. e., "a place for 
taldng salmon;" the name of a locality in Westerly Township, 
R. L, near the mouth of the Pawcatuck river. 

MISSINI PI, missi all, whole, entire, nipi water; i. e., "the 
whole water;" the name of a river near the sources of the Miss., 
flowing into Hudson s Bay. 

MISSISSIPPI, mtsi, or mishi great, sipi river; i. e., "great 
river." The foregoing derivation is from the Ojibwa tongue. 
Others entitled to much credit say the word comes from me-ze-wa 
everywhere, and seebe river; i. e., " the vast or everywhere river." 

MISSOU RI ; it is supposed this word comes from minni-shosha 
the Dakota name for this river, and sig. " muddy water." 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 27 

MITCHAWON ; i. e., "an obstruction," "a. turning back;" the 
Indian name for the falls of the Housaton ic river at New Milford, 
Conn. 

MENDO TA, mdota ; i. e., "the mouth," or "the mouth of a 
river;" the name of the town at the junction of the Minnesota with 
the Miss, in Minn. 

MOHAWK RIVER ; the Dutch called this river Maquaas river ; 
i. e., "muskrat river," and the probability is the present name is 
a corruption from the latter word. The historian, Trumbull, how 
ever, on the authority of Roger Williams, derives it from the 
Indian word moho to eat, and says the word sig. "cannibal 
river;" the name of a large river of N. Y. flowing into the Hudson 
above Albany. 

MOHE GAN, muhhekanneuk ; primarily from maingan a wolf; 
the name of a tribe of Indians formerly residing in R. I. and Conn. 

MOHUL BUC TISON, mocholpakison ; i. e., "where canoes are aban 
doned." The word is said to sig. " the head of navigation." 

MON ACAN, from the Delaware word monhacan ; i. e., " a spade," 
or any implement for digging the soil. 

MON^TAUK POINT. Probably derived from manati-auke ; i. e., 
"the island country," or "the country of the islanders;" the name 
of a promontory on Long Island. 

MONTOWES E. This name is derived from Mantowese the 
name of an Indian of some local prominence, whose name is a 
diminutive of Manito, and sig. "little god." The word is now 
the name of a railroad stat. and P. O. in East Haven, Conn. 

MONOCRACY, or MONOCKISY, menagassi ; i. e., " stream containing 
many large bends;" the name of a river in Md. flowing into the 
Potomac ; also the name of a creek in Butler and Northampton 
counties, Pa. 

MONON^GAHE LA, menaungihella ; i. e., " high banks breaking off 
in some places and tumbling down ;" the name of a river in south 
western Pa. 

MUNCY, MONSEY, minsink or menesink ; i. e., "habitation of the 
Minsi tribe," or the place of the Minsi;" the name of a creek in 
Lycoming Co., Pa. 



28 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

MOOSE LEM or MOSELEM CREEK, maschil-amek-hanne ; i. e., 
" trout stream ;" the name of a creek in Berks Co., Pa. 

MOOSHAN NE, MOSHANNIE, or MQSHANNON ; i. e., " elk stream;" 
the name of a creek in Centre Co., Pa. 

MOOS UP ; so called from Maussup, the name of a chief of the 
Narraganett Indians ; the name of a river in Conn. 

MOUNT MARCY, NEW YORK, was called by the Indians ta-ha-was ; 
i. e., " he splits the sky." 

MOUNT TOBY, MASS., was called by the Indians Quunk-wat-chu ; 
i. e., " high mountain." 

MOY^AMEN SING, mo the, sowhamen maize, ink place; i. e., 
" the place for maize," or " the maize land ;" the name of a dis 
trict within the limits of Philada., Pa. 

MUDDY CREEK, in York Co., Pa., is said to have been called by 
the Indians achsees-pagkoh ; i. e., "muddy water." 

MUN NOMIN; i. e., "rice ;" the name of a locality in Mich. 

MUSCONET CONG, MUSCON ECON, mask-hann-cunk ; i. e., "rapid 
running stream ;" the name of a river in the northern part of N. 
]., flowing into the Delaware below Easton, Pa. 

MUSCO DA, mus-co-da ; i. e., "a prairie;" the name of a town 
on the Wisconsin river, Wisconsin. 

MUSKING UM, or MOOSKING UM ; i. e., "Elk s eyes." The Dela- 
wares when they took possession of the country west of the Ohio 
river found it abounding in elk or deer, so tame they could be ap 
proached near enough to see their eyes; whence the name; the 
name of a river in Ohio. 

MYS TIC, missi great, tuk or ittuk stream; i. e., "the great 
stream;" the name of the principal river flowing into Boston bay. 
Tuk or ittuk is more especially the name of a stream whose waters 
are driven in waves by tides or winds. 

N. 

NAN SEMOND, or NAN SAMOND, nauns-chim-end ; i. e., "from 
whence we fled," "from whence we were driven ofT;" the name of 
a county in Va. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 29 

NAN TICOKES; i. e., "tide water people;" the name of a tribe 
of Indians who, when first known to the English, had their seat on 
the eastern shore of Maryland. They were, however, of Inquoi 
origin, and finally joined the Five Nations in New York, making 
the Six Nations. 

NANTIHALAH ; i. e., "maiden s bosom;" the name of a river 
in Macon, co., N. C. 

NAR RAGAN SET, acawmen-oake, and with tuk it forms acawen-tuk; 
i. e., " other side river." Others say this word is a corruption of 
naiaganset and sig. "at or about the point." 

NATCH EZ, naksh-asi ; i. e., "a hurrying man," "one running 
as to war." The name formerly belonged to a tribe of Indians 
that settled where Natchez now stands, about the beginning of the 
eighteenth century. It is the opinion of some that this word is de 
rived from naksika aside, away from, owing to the site of their 
village, which was away from the "great water road," the Miss. 

NAUB UC; said to be a corruption of dupatik, and to sig. 
"flooded" or "overflowed;" the name of a village in Conn. 

NAU GATUCK . This word is said to be derived from nequt-tugk, 
and to sig. "one tree." The word is now the name of a small 
river in Conn. The probability is the tree, which perhaps stood 
on its banks, was of great note or interest. 

NAWBESET UCK ; a corruption of nuppeeit-ohke ; i. e., "land at 
the pond ;" the name of a locality in Mansfield, Conn. 

NAYAUG, naiag ; i. e., "the point," or "the corner;" the name 
of a point at the junction of Roaring Brook and the Conn, river, 
in Glastonbury, Conn. 

NEBRAS KA; i. e., "flat or broad water;" from the Omaha or 
Punka language. 

NEMATTAN O, nimmattima; i. e., "our brother." 

NEP AUG ; supposed to be a corruption of either nunnepaug fish 
pond, or wunnepaug good pond; the name, at present, of a vil 
lage in Conn. 

NES COPECK, or NES COPEC, naesk-choppek ; " blackish colored and 



30 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

deep still water;" the name of a creek in eastern Penn., flowing 
into the North Branch of the Susquehanna. 

NESHAM INY, nischam-hanne ; i. e., two streams making one by 
flowing together;" the name of a creek in Bucks Co., Pa. 

NESHAN NOCK, neshannok ; i. e., " two adjoining streams ;" the 
name of a creek in Lawrence Co., Pa. 

NESHO BA, or NASHO BA, neshoba ; i. e., "gray wolf;" the name 
of a tributary of the Yazoo river in Miss. 

NES QUEHON ING, naska-honi ; i. e., "black lick," or "a lick 
the waters of which have a blackish color ;" the name of creek in 
Carbon Co., Pa. 

NIAG ARA, o-ne-aw-ga -ra ; i. e., " the neck." The term is derived 
from an Iriquoi word for the human neck, and was applied to the 
entire Niagara. river, which connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario, 
as the human neck connects the head with the body. It is said on 
good authority that this word is not the Indian name for the 
great falls. These falls were called by the Senecas date-car-sko- 
sasa; i. e., ".the highest falls." 

NIAN TIC ; said to sig. "at a point of land on a tidal river." The 
name occurs several times in Conn. 

NIOBRA RA, ni water, obrara broad or large; i. e., "the broad 
or large water ;" the name of a river in Neb. 

NIP PENOSE, nipenowi ; i. e., " like unto the summer;" a warm 
situation "where the cold does not penetrate;" the name of a re 
markable valley in Lycoming Co., Pa.; also the name of a creek in 
the same Co. 

NIP PISSING\ nippe water, or still water, ing or ink place ; i. e., 
"the place of still water." The name seems more particularly to 
apply to a wide place in a river where the current slackens. Possi 
bly Nipissing Lake, in Canada West, may derive its name from the 
same root. 

NIP SIC, NIP SUCK, nips a pool, auke place; i.e., " the place 
of a pool;" a location in Glastonbury, Conn., so named from a 
magnificent spring of water which here bursts forth. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 3! 

NIS OPACK, neeshapaug , i. e., " two ponds;" a name frequently 
occurring in Conn. 

NOCK AMIX ON, nochanixink ; i. e., "at the three houses ;" the 
name of a township in Bucks Co., Pa. 

NOLAMAT TINK ; i. e., "the silk worm place," or "the silk-worm 
land;" the name of a tract of land in Northampton Co., Pa., 
which formerly abounded in mulberry trees. 

NOR WALK ; the word is supposed to be derived from nayaug 
a point of land ; the name of a river in Conn. 

o. 

OAK SIS OKIE, OAKSUS KIE, woakassisku ; i. e., " winding, marshy 
ground," "winding boggy swamp." 

OANAN COCK or ONAN COCK, auwannaku ; i. e., " foggy place;" 
the name of a town in Accomac Co., Va. 

OB SCOB: This word means either "at the white rock," or "at 
the narrow passage of the rocks;" the name of a village in Conn., 
near the mouth of Oyster river. 

OC CAPOGUE, accup a creek ; the name of a stream on Long 
Island. 

OC^COHAN NOCK, woak-hanne ; i. e., "crooked, winding stream," 
" a stream with large bends ;" the Indian name of a stream in Va. 

OC COQUAN, okhucquoan, woakhucquon, or huckquoan ; i. e., "a 
hook," or " anything bent to the form of a hook." Some say the 
word is derived from shacqohocan a stone, and means "stony 
creek." This, however, is very doubtful. The word is the name 
of a stream in Prince William s Co., Va. 

OCE YEDAN, or ACEYEDAN ; i. e., "place of weeping." So called 
by the Dakotas because of weeping there the death of some of their 
relatives ; the name of a creek in Iowa which flows into the Little 
Sioux river. 

OCHISHAT CHEE ; i. e., " hickory leaf river." 

OCKLOCKO NEE ; i. e., " yellow water ;" the name of a river in 
Fla. 



32 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

OCK LOWAHA ; i. e., " muddy, or miry place." 

OCMUL GEE or OKMUL GI, oki water, mulgis it is boiling; i. e., 
"boiling water;" the name of a river in Ga. 

OHI O, ohui very, opeek white with froth, hanne stream; i. e., 
" the stream very white with froth," or " the stream abounding in 
white caps." The foregoing definition is given by Revd. John 
Heckewelder. Revd. Christian Fred Post, also a missionary among 
the Indians, and who lived with the Senecas for many years says 
this word is derived from ohee-ye-ga-hun-da, and sig. "good river," 
or "beautiful river." This definition being identical with the 
name given the Ohio by the French, I am inclined to believe Mr. 
Post merely took the French name and translated it into Indian, 
thinking it a French translation from the Indian language. Cer 
tainly Mr. Heckewelder, who was perfectly familiar with the 
Delaware language, and who resided with the Indians many years 
on the banks of this stream could not be mistaken. Doubtless the 
mineral oils which are now so important an item of trade in West 
ern Penna., were then finding their way to the surface of the earth 
and floating on the fair bosom of the Ohio, liable at any moment 
to be blown into white caps by southwesterly winds. 

OHI OPYLE or OHIOPLE, ohiopihelle \ i. e., "white froth upon the 
water;" the name of a cataract on the Youghiogheny River in 
Fayette Co., Pa. 

O KECHO BEE, or OKITCHO BI; i, e., "large water;" the name of 
a lake in the southern part of Florida. 

O KI ; the generic term for water in the Creek language, also in 
the Seminole language which is essentially the same as the Creek. 
The word very frequently, as a suffix, takes the form okee, kee or 
ee. 

O KIFENO KEE; i. e., " weaving, shaking water;" the name of 
an extensive swamp in Ga. 

OK LOKON EE, OCK LOCKON NEE, oki water, lakni yellow; i. e., 
"yellow water;" the name of a river in Ga. 

OKO NI, or OCO NEE, ekuoni ; i. e., "great, large water;" the 
name of a river in Ga. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 33 

O LEY, olink, wahlink, olo, wahlo ; i. e., "a cavern or cell," 
also "a. tract of land encompassed by hills;" now the name of a 
township in Berks Co., Pa. 

O MAHA; from the Dakota language and sig. "up stream;" the 
name of a city in Neb. 

ONEYAGI NE, oneya ; i. e., "a stone;" the Indian name of Stone 
Creek, Schoharie Co., N. Y. 

ONONDA GA; i. e., "a. swamp at the foot of a hill;" the name 
of a shallow lake in the state of New York. 

ONTA RIO ; This word is from the Wyandot language, and is 
supposed to mean " how beautiful is the hill or rock standing in 
the water." It is thought to have been first applied to some spot 
near Kingston, where the Wyandots resided many years. The 
Mohawks and their confederates generally called this lake cad-ar- 
acqui. The term Ontario, however, being more euphonious, was 
finally applied by Europeans to the entire lake. Others say this 
word is derived from the Mohawk word ska-no-da-rio, and sig. 
"beautiful lake." I incline to the latter opinion. 

ONTON AGON, nin-do-nau-gon ; i. e., "my dish." This name is 
said to have been derived in the following somewhat singular man 
ner : At the mouth of this river, which flows into Lake Superior, 
there is a small bay and dead water. Into and out of this bay the 
water of the lake alternately flows, according to the direction ot 
the wind and perhaps other causes. On one occasion an Indian 
woman had left her wooden dish or onagon, on the sands of the 
shore where she had been employed, to find it, upon her return, 
carried away by the swelling tide. Nai nin do nau gon ! she ex 
claimed. That is to say: Alas ! my dish. 

OPEEHAN EANAUGH\ opeek-hanne ; i. e., "stream of whitish 
color." 

OPELI KA, opilua swamp, laikata to be stretched out; i. e., 
"large swamp," or " great swamp ;" at present the name of a town 
in Russell county, Ala. 

OPELOU SAS, OPELU SA. This word is said to mean " black leg 
gings or moccasins ;" the name of a town in La. 



34 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

OP ICON, or OP QUAN, opeekhan ; i. e., "a stream of a whitish 
color;" the name of a stream in Va., flowing into the Potomac. 

OPIL LAKO, opilua swamp, lako large; i. e., "large swamp;" 
the name of a stream flowing into Flint river, Ga. 

OPILOUS S^S, OQUELOUS SAS; i. e., " black water." 

ORINO CO; said to mean "coiled serpent;" the name of one of 
the largest rivers in South America. 

OSTANAU LA, or ESTAN ULA; i. e., " the place of overtaking." 

OSWE YA CREEK, utschija; i. e., "place of flies;" the name of 
a tributary of the Allegheny river in McKean county, Pa. 

OT TAWA, ah-tah-way] i. e., "a trader," or "he trades;" the 
name of a river in Canada. 

OUHE GEE, ahiki ; i. e., "to look up stream." 

OWOB OP TA ; i. e., " where they dig roots ;" the name of one of 
the largest northern tributaries of the Minnesota, called by the 
French Pomme de Terra, and by the Dakotas Teepsinna, which 
words are the names in those languages of the roots dug there for 
food. 

OWOTAN NA WAK PA ; i. e., " straight river;" the name of a trib 
utary of the Cannon river in Minn., commonly written owaton na. 

OXOBOX O, OXYBOX Y, ogusse-paug small pond, suck outlet ; i. 
e., "the brook which flows out of the small pond ;" the name of a 
small stream near Montville, Conn. 

P. 

PACH AUG, flat/iatt-au&e ; i. e., "a turning place;" the name of 
a river in Conn. 

PAHAWAK AN; i. e., " the sacred hills," or "the sacred round- 
topped hills." This name is applied to several high^mound-like 
hills in Dakota, called also medicine hills. 

PAINT CREEK, IN Cambria Co., Pa., was called by the Delawares 
wallamink ; i. e., " where there is paint." 

PA JUTAZEE; i. e., "yellow root;" the name of a western branch 
of the Minn., often called " Yellow Medicine." 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 35 

PAKIO MA; i. e., " where the cranberries grow." 

ink, or paki omink ; i. e., " at the cranberry 



place." 

PALATKA or PILATKA ; i. e., "spilled," "thrown down;" the 
name of a town in Fla., on the St. John s river. 

PAMUN KY \pihmunga; i. e., "where we were sweating," or "in* 
the sweat-house where we sweated ;" the name of a stream in Va^ 

PAS CAGOU LA, paska bread, ogoulas, from ok/a nation; i. e., 
" bread nation." The name was first applied to a tribe of Indians 
who settled near Mobile ; the name of a river in the S. E. part of 
Miss. 

PASSA IC, passajeek ; i. e., "a valley;" the name seems to refe 
rather to the country through which the river flows than to the river 
itself; the name of a river of N. J. 

PASSAMAQUOD DY. This word has been variously translated. In 
1828, Revd. Elijah Killroy gave as its meaning "pollock fish," and 
Revd. Mr. Rara translates peshemoo-kwoddy as "pollock ground;" 
the name of a bay at the S. E. extremity of Maine. 

A.iAT?s co,patapsqut ; i. e., "back water," or " tide water con 
taining froth," or "a long deep stretch in a stream caused by back 
or tide water containing froth ;" the name of the river upon which 
the city of Baltimore stands. 

PATCHOG UE, (pathdg 1 ,} pauochauog ; i. e., "the place where they 
gamble and dance;" a town of Suffolk Co., N. Y., near the south 
ern shore of Long Island. 

PATKASK ADEN ; i. e., " the tortoise or turtle;" the name of a 
western tributary of the Dakota. 

PAT TAQUONK; i. e., "round place," meaning an Indian s wig 
wam or sweating-house, or possibly only " round hill." At pres 
ent the name of a hill near Saybrook, Conn. 

PATUXENT or PATUXET ; from the same root as Pawtuxent, which 
see ; the name of a river in Md. 

PAUPON AMING, papennamink; i. e., "at the place where we were 
grazing." 



36 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

PAU TIKAUG. This word is supposed to sig. "boggy meadows," 
" miry land ;" the name of a district in Conn. 

PAWAT ING was the Chippewa name for the falls of Sault St. Marie, 
and means " the falls," or "at the place of the noise." 

PAWHATAN , or PAWATAN , pauat-hanne ; i. e., at or near the 
falls of the stream." From the falls of the James river, near where 
Richmond now stands, named as above, Capt. John Smith says the 
great king Powhatan took his name. 

PAWTUCK ET; i. e., "the falls," or " at the falls;" the name of 
a river of Rhode Island having on it a fall of 50 ft., from which it 
is supposed it took its name. Above this fall the river takes the 
name of the Black Stone, and below the fall, the Seekonk. 

PAWTUX ET, or PAUTUXKT ; i. e., "at the little falls ;" the name 
of a river in Rhode Island abounding in valuable mill-seats. 

PAX TON, peeks- tunk ; i. e., " place of standing or dead water;" 
the name of a creek in Dauphin Co., Pa. 

PEGU MOCK, peek-hanne : i. e., "dark stream;" the name of a 
creek in N. J. 

PEM APACK ; supposed to be derived from pemmapecka, which 
see 



PEMMAPKCK A, A 1 ^ 7 /^ / i- e., "a pond, lake or bog," or "water 
not having a current." 

PEN NEPACK ; supposed to be a corruption of Pemmapecka, which 
see; the name of a creek in Philad. Co., Pa., flowing into the Dela 
ware. 

PENOB SCOT, panaooa-bskek, or pe-noom-ske-ook : i. e., "at the 
falls of the rock," or " at the descending rock." The name was 
originally applied by the Knglish to a locality on the river, and 
probably the Indian name of the river is lost. The word seems to 
have been the Indian name of Old Town Falls, a village en the 
river. It would seem a better corruption of the Indian name would 
be Penobscook ; the name of one of the largest rivers in Me. 

PENSACO LA, pan-sha-okla ; a Choctaw word sig. " hair people ;" 
at present the name of a city and bay in Fia. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 37 

PEQUAB UCK, supposed to mean " clear or open pond ;" the name 
of a river in Conn. The name was doubtless transferred from the 
pond at its source. 

PEQTJAN NOCK ; i. e., "a clearing," or " cleared land ;" the name 
of a town in Morris Co., X. J. 

PEOUOD, or PEQUOT, pcquttoog, or paquatauog ; i. e., " the de 
stroyers ;" the name of a warlike tribe of Indians that formerly in 
habited New England. 

PER KIO MEN, pakihm-ink ; i. e., "cranberry-place;" the name 
of a creek in Montgomery Co., Penna. 

PESCAT TAWAY, wapees white, kowat or quaat a pine tree, or 
the place of the pine tree; i. e., "the place of the white pine 
tree;" the name of a town in Middlesex Co., X. J. 

PEWAK PA; i. e.. "Elm river;" the name of a western branch 
of the Dakota river. 

PICCOWAX EN, pixuwaxen ; i. e., "torn shoes;" the name of a 
creek in Md. 

PINE CREEK, in Penna. was called by the Indians cuwen-hanne ; 
i. e., "the stream that flows through pine trees," or "Pine Creek." 

PISCAS SET, wapees white, asstn, or quassin a stone; i. e.., 
" white stone ; " the name of a stream in Me. 

PISCAT AWAY, pisgattauwi ; i. e., "it is darkening," " growiiug 
dark ;" the name of a river in Prince George s Co., Md. 

PIS TEPAUG, pishaggua-paug ; i. e, "muddy or miry pool." 
This name has been transferred to a mountain in Conn. Doubt 
less originally the name of a lake or pool in the vicinity. 

PITTSKURG, PA. This place was called by the Indians, after its 
occupation by the French, menachk-sink ; i. e., "where there is a 
fence," "an enclosure," in allusion to the fortifications. 

PLAY WICKY, phieuwikcchtit ; i. e., "the habitation of those of 
the turkey tribe." 

PLUMB CR. in W. Penna. was called by the Indians spuas-hanne, or 

spuas-ink ; i. e., " plumb stream," or "at the place of the plumbs." 

POCAS SET; i. e., the place "where a strait widens out ;" the 



38 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

name of a village in Mass. This name occurs frequently in New 
England. 

PO CHAUG, pohshaog; i. e., where they divide" in two; the 
place where the Pochaug and Manunkateset rivers meet in Conn. 

POCHOUGOULA; i. e., "pond lily people ;" the name originally 
of a tribe of Natchez Indians. 

PO COHAN TAS, or PO CAHON TAS, pockohantes ; i. e., "streamlet 
between two hills;" compounded of pochko a rocky hill, and 
hanne stream ; the latter root rendered a diminutive by the suffix 
tes. The Princess Pocahontas doubtless derived her name from 
this stream ; at present the name of a town in S. W. Va. 

WcQUQ-KEtpockhammokik; i. e., "knobby," "broken by knobs 
and hills ;" the name of a river in Md. 

PO CONO, or PO KONO, poko-hanne ; i. e., "a stream issuing from 
a mountain," or "running between two mountains." The Broad 
Mountain, south of Scranton, Pa., receives its name of Pdcono 
from a stream of the same name contiguous thereto. 

POCO SEN, or POCCOS EN. This word is supposed to be derived 
from pduck-assin ; i. e., "a place where balls, bullets or lead was 
to be had ;" the name of a river in Va. 

POCOTO PAUG, pohqutae-paug ; i. e., "divided pond;" the name 
of a large pond in Chatham, Conn., nearly divided in two parts, 
connected only by a short and narrow strait. 

PO HOP OKA, pockhapocka; i. e., "two mountains butting with 
their ends against each other, with a stream of water between," as 
in the case of the Lehigh Water Gap ; now the name of a stream in 
Carbon county, Pa., flowing into the Lehigh river. 

POKETO, pack gita : i. e., "throw it away," "abandon it," the 
name of a creek in Allegheny county, Pa. 

PO^KOMO KA, pocqueumoke ; i. e., "place of shell fish;" the In 
dian name of a river in Md. 

POM V PERUNG , POMPERAUG ; this word probably means " place of 
offering," or " place of contributing ;" now the name of a river in 
Conn. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 39 

POMPTON, pihmton;; i. e., " crooked mouthed ; "the name of a 
small river in N. J. 

PONTOOSUC, powntuk-suck ; i. e., " falls on the brook." A hill 
in Glastonbury, Conn., now bears this name. 

POPOCATEPETL, i. e., "smoking mountain," or " the hill that 
smokes ;" the name of a noted volcano of Mexico. 

POPON OMING, papennamink ; i. e., "where we are gazing;" the 
name of a small lake in Monroe Co., Pa. 

POQUES SON, or POQUISSING, poques-ink ; i. e., "at the place 
abounding in mice ;" the name of a creek in Bucks Co., Pa. 

POQUON OCK, or POQUONNOC; i. e., " cleared land ;" the name 
of a village near Farmington river, Conn. 

POQUETAN NOC ; i. e., "land opened or broken up," "land 
ready for planting;" the name of a town in Conn. 

PORT TOBACCO, pootuppag; i. e., "a bay, or cove;" the name 
of an inlet on the Potomac river in Md. 

POTICH, poduch, or poftuck ; i. e., "round;" the name of one of 
the plains in Catskill Co., N. Y. 

POTO MAC, potowmak, or petahmok ; i. e., "they are coming by 
water;" "drawing near in crafts or canoes;" the name of a large 
river forming the boundary line between Md. and Va. 

PSIM MDSE ; i. e., "rice lake;" the name of several lakes in Minn, 
so called from the wild rice growing on their banks. 

PTANSIN TA; i. e., "otter tail;" the name of a peninsula between 
Lac Traverse and the Minn, river, so called from its resemblance 
to that organ. 

PTANS KA ; i. e., "white otter;" the name of a lake in Iowa. 

PUCK AWAY; i. e., "cat-tail flag;" the name of a lake in Wis., 
an expansion of the Neenah River. 

PUCKIS TA, pachgisa ; i. e., "throw it away," " abandon it." 

PUNGOTE QUE, or PUNGOTEA QUE, punghatteke ; i. e., "the place 
of powder. " In the Delaware language the word pung sig. powder, 
also ashes, dust and fine sand. Owing to the extremely sandy 



40 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

character of the country, it is highly probable the Indians in this 
case intended the word to sig. not the place of powder, but rather 
the place of fine sand or dust ; the name of a town and island in 
Accomac Co., Va. 

PUNXUTAW NEY, PONKSUTENEY ; i. e., "habitation of sand- 
flies;" the name of a town in Jefferson Co., Pa. 

PY MATU ING, pihmtomink ; i. e., "the crooked-mouthed man s 
dwelling place," or "the dwelling place of the man with the 
crooked mouth;" the name of a tributary of the Chenango river 
in Mercer Co., Pa. 

Q. 

QUAD DIC ; a corruption Qi patta-quottuck ; i. e., "at the round 
place on the tide water ;" the name of a village in Conn. 

QUAKEKE, cuwenkeek, or kuwenkeek; i. e., "pine lands;" the 
name of a creek in Carbon Co., Pa. 

QUANTICO. If this is the same as Guentico, gentican, it mean,s 
"dancing," "place of frolicking ;" the name of a town in-Md. 

QUASSA ICK, quassuck a rock, ink place; i. e., "the place of 
the rock;" the Indian name of Newburgh, N. Y. The location 
of the town on a high rocky bluff justifies the name. 

QUEBEC, kebic ; i. e.; " the fearful rocky cliff." Some say this 
word was derived from the French phrase Quel bee what a beak ! 
Others say it was imported by the French from Brittany. 

QUEMAHONING, cuwei-mahotii ; i. e., "pine tree lick;" the 
name of a branch of the Conemaugh, in Somerset Co., Pa. 

QUEN ISCH-ACHACH-GEK-HAN NE or QUENISCHASCH AC KI ; i. e., 
" the long reach river," or " the long way straight river ;" the In 
dian name for the West Branch of the Susquehanna, Revd. John 
Heckewelder says the word SUSQUEHANNA is a corruption of this 
word, and that this name was applied to the entire stream by the 
Delawares. The name was suggested by the long straight stretch 
in the West Branch west of Williamsport. 

QUENISCH-ACHACH -KI ; "a long way straight." This was the 
Indian name for the "Long Reach" in the West Branch of the 
Susquehanna above Williamsport, Pa. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 4! 

QUEPON CO, cuwenponga ; i. e., "ashes of pine woods;" the 
name of a creek in Md. 

QUID NIC, aqueednuk. This word means either " the place at 
the end of the hill;" or " the place beyond the hill ;" the name at 
present of a small river in R. I. 

QUILUTAM END ; i. e., "we came upon them unawares;" the 
name of a spot in Luzerne Co., Pa., lying between the Susquehanna 
river and a mountain, where the Delawaressay they surprised a body 
of Indians of the Five Nations and defeated them. 

QUIN AMOGUE. This word is supposed to be a corruption of 
quinri -amaug ; \. e., "long fish place," or the place where lam 
preys (long fish) are taken ; the name of a locality near Charles- 
town, R. I. 

QUING QUIN GUS, quin-quin&iis ; i. e., " duck and mullet." 

QUITOPAHIE TA or QUITOPOHEL LA, cuispehelle, or cuwispehella; 

" a spring that issues out of the earth where there are pine trees 
standing ;" the name of a stream in Lebanon Co., Pa. 

R. 

RACCOON CREEK, in W. Penna. was called by the Indians nache- 
num-hanne ; i. e., "raccoon stream." 

RAPPAHAN NOCK, lappihanne ; i. e., "the current Ins returned 
or flowed again;" or where the tide water flows and ebbs ; the 
name of a stream in Va. 

RED STONE CREEK, in W. Penna. was called by the Indians mach- 
kach-sin-hanne ; i. e., "red stone stream." 

RESTIGOUCHE, (res -tef-god-shd}; i. e., " the river which divides 
like the hand;" the name of a river in British America forming 
the northern boundary of N. B., so called because a short distance 
above its point of discharge into the Bay of Chaleur it divides like 
the hand into five branches. 

ROCK AWAY ; supposed to be derived from reckaivackes, or acke- 
wek ; i. e., "bushy," or "difficult to cross ;" the name of a river 

in N. J. 



42 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

ROM OPACK ; Possibly this word is derived from wulumipeek "a 
round pond or lake of fine white colored water. 

s. 

SA CO, sauk-sagook ; i. e., pouring out." The root sig. the 
place of discharge or pouring out of a river or lake ; the name of a 
river in Maine. 

SAG INAW RIVER, sauk-sahcoon ; i. e., "at the mouth," or 
"pouring out at the mouth." The Saginaw river discharges 
through Saginaw bay into Lake Huron ; the bay forming the place 
where the river pours out into the lake. Very probably the bay 
gave name to the river; that is, the Europeans gave the same name 
to the river which they found attached to the bay ; the name of a 
river in Michigan. 

SALT LICK CREEK, in W. Penna. was called by the Indians 
sikhewt-md-honi, or sik-hei-hanne ; i. e., "salt lick stream," or "a 
stream flowing from a salt lick." 

SANDY LICK is a translation from segauwi-mahoni, the name of a 
stream in Venango Co., Pa. 

SANKIN AK, or SANKIN ACK, sank-hanne ; i. e., "flint stone 
stream ;" the name of a stream in Penna. 

SARATO GA, seitake : i. e., " on the heel;" the name of a lake in 
N. Y. A very good authority asserts that the sig. of this word is 
lost. 

SAS CO ; supposed to mean " marshy land," or "swamp;" the 
name of a creek in Westport, Conn. 

SASKATCHEWAN ; i. e., "the swift current;" the name of a 
river in Manitoba , B. A. 

SAS SAFRAS river is a translation from winak-hanne. The stream 
to which the name applies is in the N. E. part of Md. 

SAU CON, or SACON NA, sacunk ; i. e., " the outlet ;" the name of 
a creek in Northampton Co., Pa. 

SAU GATUCK ; see Sawahquat ock ; the name of a small river in 
Conn. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 43 

SAU KUNK; i. e., "at the mouth;" that is at the mouth of the 
Big Beaver river where it flows into the Ohio. This spot was a 
well known rendezvous for Indian war parties. 

SAWAHQUATOCK, SAWKATUCKET, or SAQUATUCKET, sauke-tiik; i. e., 
"at the mouth of the tidal stream." 

SCAN TIC; supposed to be derived from pe skatnk ; i. e., " where 
the river branches ;" the name of a river and town in Conn. 

SCHAKAMAX ENS, or SHACKAMAX ON, schach-ame-sink ; i. e., "the 
place of eels :" the name of a locality near Kensington, Philad. 

SCHENEC TADY j i. e., " over or beyond the pines;" the name of 
a town on the Mohawk river, N. Y. In early colonial times there 
was a portage from Fort Orange, or Albany on the Hudson, across 
the peninsula formed by the Hudson and Mohawk to this point, 
Schenectady, which led through pine forests : whence the name. 
Others say this word is derived from ska-ncli-fa-de, and sig. " be 
yond the openings." 

SCHO HACAN INK ; i. e.< " the place of glue ;" or " where glue is 
made." 

SCHOHA RIE CREEK, sko-har-Ie float wood ; the name of a creek 
in a county of the same name in N. Y. 

SCHOHO LA, or SHOHO LA, schauwihilla; i. e., "weak," " faint," 
"distressed;" the name of a creek in Pike Co., Pa. 

SCHUYL KILL, ganshowe-hanne ; i. e., "the roaring stream;" the 
name of a river in E. Penna. Others say the word is of Dutch or 
igin and sig. " the hidden stream." For this dif. see the author s 
work on local names in general. 

SCIT ICO; i. e., "at the branch;" the name of a locality in 
Conn., on the Scantic river. 

SEBETH E ; supposed to be derived from sepoese " small river ;" 
the name of a river in Middletown, Conn. 

SEM IXOLE, isti-simanole ; i. e., "separatist," or "runaway;" 
the]name given to those who separated, or ran away from the Creeks. 
Albert Gallatin says the word sig. " wild men," because they sub 
sisted largely by hunting and fishing, while the Creeks generally 
were engaged in agriculture and subsisted largely by it. 



44 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

SENE GAR, sinnikc ; i. e., "stony;" the name of a creek in Md. 
(Sinne-hanne stony stream.) 

SEN EGAR FALLS, was called by the Indians sinne-pchelle ; i. e., 
"water rushing over stones." 

SENSIN IK, assin a stone, ick place ; i. e., " the place of the 
stone," or perhaps more properly " the stony place ;" the name of 
a locality in Westchester Co., N. Y. 

SERECH EN, silehend, or sinue-hund ; i. e., "where they milk." 

SHAK OPEE ; i. e., " six ;" the name of a town on the Minnesota 
river, called after a chief of that name who formerly dwelt there. 

SHAMO KIN, schahamoki, or schahamo-kink ; i. e., "the place of 
eels;" the name of the spot where Sunbury, Pa., now stands; also 
the name of a creek flowing into the Susquehanna at Sunbury. 
SHAMUNK, wschummonk ; i. e., " a place of a horn." 
SHAN NOCK, shawwunk ; the " place where two streams meet ;" 
the name of a river in North Stonington, Conn., formed by a union 
of the Assekonk and Phelps s creeks, in Milltown village. 

SHAN TUCK ; supposed to be derived from mishuntugket ; i. e., 
" the place of much wood," a location near Montville Conn. 

SHAN TITUCK. ; i. e., " the woody place ;" the name of a small 
stream in R. I. 

SHAWNEES , shawenu ; i. e., "the southern people." This word 
is derived from the Lenappe language. The word Showan or 
Chowan the name of a river in N. C., possibly comes from the 
same root. 

SHEBOY GAN, showbwa-way-gum ; i. e., "the river that comes 
out of the ground ;" the name of a river in Wisconsin. 

SHEN ANDO AH, schind-han-dowi ; " the sprucy stream," or " the 
stream passing by or through spruce pines." There is another de 
finition to this word derived from ononda a mountain, and goa 
great, and sig. a river flowing alongside of high hills or mountains. 
These latter roots are of Iriquoi origin, and as there is no evidence 
that the Iriquoi Indians ever inhabited the banks of this stream, or 
even visited the region it traverses, very often, it is not likely they 
are the origin of the word. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 45 

SHEPAUG , shippaug ; i. e., "great pond." This river rises in a 
pond in Conn., known as great pond, and doubtless the Indian 
name of the pond has been transferred to the river. 

SHICAWAK PA ; i. e., " bad river ;" called also Teton, and Little 
Missouri river ; the name of a river in Arkansas. 

SHIN TAKA; i. e., "tamarack;" the name of several marshes in 
Minnesota. So named on account of the tamarack growing spon 
taneously in them. 

SHIP PAUG; i. e., "great pond;" said to have been the Indian 
name of Litchfield Pond in Connecticut. 

SHKOT PA ; i. e., "hollow," or "blow;. " the name of a lake in 
Minnesota, now called White Bear Lake. 

SHOHO KIN, schohacan, i. e., "glue;" the name of a stream in 
Wayne Co., Pa. 

SHOHOLA ; from schauwihilla ; i. e.. "weak," "faint," "de 
pressed;" the name of a stream in Pike Co., Pa. 

SHUM MOCK; i. e., "the place of -the horn." 

SINNEMAHO NING, achsinnimahoni ; i.e., "stony lick," or "the 
place of the stony lick;" the name of a stream in Cameron Co., 
Penna. 

SISSOWKIS SINK, shilmwen a duck, ugissit black, ink place, or 
locality; i. e., " the place of the black duck," the name of a creek 
on the west side of the Delaware river in Penna. 

SKANEAT ARES ; i. e., "long lake." 

SKIP PACK, schkipuk ; i. e., "stinking pool of water;" the name 
of a creek in Montgomery Co., Pa. 

SLIPPERY ROCK, a translation from wesch-ach-ach-apuch-ka ; the 
name of a creek in W. Penna. 

Sooo, sa-iika ; i. e., "rattle," " gourd rattle." 

STONY CREEK in Somerset Co., Pa., was called by the Indians 
sinne -hanne ; i. e., "stony stream." 

SUPERIOR LAKE was called by the Indians gitch-igomee ; i. e., 
" big sea water." 



46 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

SUSPECOUGH ; supposed to mean " muddy, dirty water;" the 
name of a creek in N. J. 

SUWA NEE ; supposed to be derived from the Creek word sawani 
echo, and sig. "echo river;" the name of a river in Florida ; 
also the name of a town and creek in the northern part of Georgia. 

T. 

TACON IC; supposed to mean forest," or " wilderness;" the 
name of a mountain range in Mass., west of the Housatonic River. 

TAL LADE GA, italua town, atigi at the end, on the border; 
i. e., "the border town," or "the town on the frontier;" the name 
of a village in Talladega Co., Alabama. I cannot say that the 
name was first applied to this spot, but very probably it was not. 

TAL LAHAS SEE, italua town or nation, hassi old; i. e., "old 
nation," "old town," "waste place," "vacated;" the name of 
the Capital of Florida. 

TAL LAPOO SA; supposed to be derived from the Creek talepu" 1 la , 
i. e., "stranger," "newcomer," alluding to the arrival of other 
Indian tribes, or a tribe; the name of a river of Ga. 

TAMA QUA, tamaque-hanne ; i. e., "beaver stream;" the name of 
a creek in Schuylkill Co., Pa. 

TAM PA, itimpi ; i. e., "close to it," "near it;" the name of a 
bay on the west coast of the peninsula of Fla.; named by De Soto, 
Espiritu Santo. 

TAN GIPAHA ; the name of a river in the S. . part of La.; named 
after an Indian tribe, and sig. "those who gather maize stalks." 

TAXGOMOCK ONOMIN GO, tangamochkomennunga ; i. e., "the bark 
for the medicine." 

TANKHAN NA, or TANKHAN NE; i. e., "the smaller stream;" the 
name of a creek in E. Penna. 

TAP PAN, thoppek-hanne ; i. e. , "cold stream;" the name is now 
applied to an expansion of the Hudson River between Rockland 
and Westchester counties, N. Y. Probably a stream flowing into 
this lake has given to it its present name. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 47 

TAT NICK; supposed to be a corruption of Kt-adene-k; i. e., 
"at the great hill;" the name of a hill and brook in Worcester 
Co., Mass. 

TAUNTON ; supposed to be derived from tetiquet or zeticut. The 
sig. of these roots, however, seem to be lost, and I give the word 
with its roots merely to show how completely many Indian words 
have been disguised by phonetic changes, or corruption ; the name 
of a river in Mass. 

TELMOCRES SES, talua-mutchasi ; i.e., "new town;" the name 
of an Indian town on the west side of the Chattahoochee River. 

TEMEGAM E; i. e., "deep lake;" the name of a lake that dis 
charges its waters into the Ottawa River, Canada. 

TE TON ; i. e., "dwellers on the prairie ; " the name of a clan of 
Dakota Indians. 

THUPPEKHAN NE; i. e., "stream flowing from large springs." 

TIM OGA: i. e., "lord," "ruler," "master;" the name of an old 
Indian town on a tributary of the St. John s, Fla. 

TIO GA ; For this word there are several definitions, arising, pos 
sibly, from a confounding of roots, or a misapprehension of the 
particular root from which the word is derived. One authority 
says the word is derived from teoga, and sig. "swift current excit 
ing admiration." Another very good authority, N. T. True, Esq., 
of Bethel, Me., says it is derived from teyaogen an interval, or 
anything in the middle or between two things. Hence tei-ohoho- 
gen "the forks of a stream," or "the place where two rivers 
meet," that is, the point between them. This would very properly 
apply to the place where Northumberland, Pa., now stands, in the 
fork made by the North and West branches of the Susquehanna at 
their place of meeting. 

Revd. John Heckewelder, however, says the word is derived from 
tiagoa, an Iriquoi word, and sig. "a gateway," or "a place to 
enter in at." It seems the Iriquoi Indians claimed all the country 
lying north and west of those two branches of the Susquehanna, 
whilst the country south of them was conceded to belong to the 
Dela wares. 

Owing to the physical features of the country, the point at the 



48 INDIAN LOCAL NAME S. 

junction of the two branches of the Susquehanna alluded to above, 
was the most convenient place for intercommunication between the 
territory of those two families of Indians. Of so much importance 
was this place considered as a highway for intercommunication, that 
Rev. David Zeisberger, a missionary, who as early as 1750 traveled 
through this pass or gateway, says that a tribe of Iriquoi Indians 
was stationed here to challenge all who attempted to pass through 
into their country; and that they considered all persons found in 
their country who did not enter it by this gate, or by way of the 
Mohawk, suspicious characters, and treated them as spies or ene 
mies. 

The probability is all three authorities referred to above translate 
corectly each his own root, and that all three original words are 
now represented orthographically by the same simple word tioga, 
each, however, having a sig. and originally a locality of its own, as 
a local name, since we have the word as the name of a tributary of 
the Chemung river near Elmira, N. Y. This, however, could cer 
tainly not have been the word referred to by Mr. Heckewelder, 
who was stationed at Bethlehem, Pa., and who labored exclusively 
I believe with the Delaware Indians. Moreover, he says positively 
the word translated by him was the name of the place where 
Northumberland, Pa., now stands, and that it was given to it by 
the Six Nations. 

TIOGA, from teoga ; i. e., "swift current;" the name of a river 
in Tioga county, Pa., flowing into the Chemung river in N. Y. 

TIORONDA; this word probably means "the place where two 
waters meet;" the name of a locality in Fishkill Co., N. Y. 

TIOUGHNIOGA, (te-oh ne-aw ga,) teuunghuka; i. e., "meeting of 
the waters;" the name of a river in Broome Co., N. Y. 

TIP PECANOE ; said to mean "at the great clearing;" the name 
of a river in Indiana. 

TITAN KA; i. e., "big house;" the name of an Indian village on 
the Dakota River. 

TITANKA HE; i. e., "big house stands," or "where the big house 
stands;" the name of some lakes west of the Big Sioux River. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 49 

TLASCA LA; i. e., "place of bread/ the name of a town in 
Mexico, a place of great importance at the Spanish conquest. 

TOBYHAN NA, topi-hanne ; i. e., "alder stream;" so named from 
the abundance of that shrub growing on its banks; the name of a 
creek in Lehigh Co., Pa. 

TOBY S CREEK, in W. Penna., was called by the Indians gwunsch- 
hanne ; i. e., " briar stream." 

TOCO MO RIVER, in Fla. This stream derives its name from the 
Indian tribe known as the timucua, or temoga lord, ruler or 
master. The tribe resided around the Mosquito Lagoon, Fla. 

TOHICK ON, tohichan, or tohick-hanne ; i. e., "the stream over 
which we pass by means of a bridge of drift-wood ;" the name of a 
creek in Bucks Co., Pa. 

TOM BICON, tombicanll; i. e., "place of crab apples;" the name 
of a creek in Bucks Co., Pa. 

TOMBIG BEE, itumbi-bikpi ; i. e., "coffin makers." The Choctaw 
Indians had their old men with very long nails to clean the bones 
of their dead, and place them in boxes, when they were deposited 
in "bone houses," whence the name; the name of a river of Miss. 

TOMBIKHAN NE; i. e., "crab-apple stream." 

TOSKO GEE; either from tdskdis jumpers, or taskialgi warriors; 
the name of an old Indian town on the Great Tennessee river. 

TO TAWA FALLS, in N. J.; fosauwei; i. e., "to sink, dive, or go 
under water to rise again, as timbers do when carried over a water 
fall." 

TOWAN DA, tawundeunk ; i. e., "at the burial place," or "where 
there is a burying." The Nanticoke Indians are said to have 
buried their dead at Towanda, Bradford Co., Pa.; whence the 
name. 

TOW SISSIM OK, dawa-simok ; i. e., " the feeding place for cattle," 
or " the pasture ground or place." 

TUCK AHOE, tuchaho we ; i. e., "deer are shy," "hard coming at 
the place where deer are so shy;" the name of a creek in N. J., 
flowing into Great Egg Harbor Bay. 
4 



50 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

TUCQUAN, pduck-hanne ; i. e., " winding stream." 
TUE QUAN, pduequan round, and pducachtin "round hill. 

TUKPAF KA; i. e., "spunk-knot," "punky wood," "rotten 
wood." 

TULPEHOC KEN, tuJpewi-hacki ; land abounding in turtles;" the 
name of a creek flowing into the Schuylkill near Reading, Pa. 

TUNKHAN NA, tunk-hanne ; i. e., " the small, or smaller stream^;" 
the name of a stream in Wyoming Co., Pa., sometimes written 
Tunkhannock. 

TUPPEEKHANNA; i. e., "the stream that flows from a large 
spring;" the name of one of the sources of the Little Lehigh river 
in Lehigh Co., Pa. 

TURTLE CREEK, PA., is a translation from the Indian word tul- 
pewi-sipu. 

TUSCALOO SA, tushka warrior, lusa black; i. e., "black war 
rior; " the name of a river of Alabama. Tuscaloosa was the name 
of the Indian chief of "noble person and bearing," who gave 
battle to De Soto at Mobile and occasioned him his first serious re 
verse. 

TUSKE GEE, probably derived from taskialgi warriors ; the name 
of a town in Alabama. 

Two LICKS CREEK in Western Pa., is a translation from the In 
dian words nischa-hont, or nischa-honink. 

u. 

UIUKUF KI, ukiefki muddy, oiwa water; i. e., " muddy water;" 
the name of a stream in the Indian Territory. This word was the 
Creek name for the Miss. 

UMA HU; i. e., "hazelwood." 

U POTOG\ apata-i ; i. e., "covering," "spreading out" as wall 
paper, carpets, etc.; the name of a creek in Muscogee Co., Ala. 

UTTAMAC COMCK, uchtamaganat ; i. e., "a path-maker," "a 
leader." 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 51 

UTU HU ; i. e., "oak," or "the oak;" the name of a small lake 
near Lac Qui Parle, Minn. 

UTI/HU OJU; i. e., "oak planting," or "oak-grove;" the name 
of a small forest on the Dakota, near Ft. Wadsworth. 

V. 

VENAN GO; i. e., "interesting mark on a tree;" the name of a 
creek in W. Penna. 

w. 

WA BASHAW, wape-sha; i. e., "red leaf;" the name of a town 
and county in Minn. 

WACHACH KEEK, wauchou a hill, keag land; i. e. , "hilly 
land," or "highland;" the name of one of the plains in Catskill, 
N. Y. 

WA GA ; i. e,, " cottomvood ;" the name of a western tributary of 
the Minn. 

WALLENPAU PACK, or WAULI.ENPAUPACK, or PAUPACK, walink- 
papeek; i. e., "deep and dead water;" the name of a creek in N. 
E. Penna., flowing: into the Lackawaxen, near Honesdale. 

WAI/PACK, walpeek; i. e., "a turn hole," "a deep and still 
place in a stream ;" at present the name of a township in N. J. 

WAM PANOAGE\ wapan east, ake land; i. e., " the east land." 
This name was applied to the country east of Narragansett Bay. 

WAN TAG, wundachqui ; i. e., "that way." 

WAN TAGE, cuweuagi; i. e., " piece of timber land ;" at present 
the name of a township in Sussex Co., N. J. 

WAPALLAN NE-WACHSCH-IECH -EY ; i. e., "bald eagle s nest." 

WAPPASU NING CREEK, wapachsinmuk ; i. e., "at the place of 
the white stones" (or metal). The Delaware Indians called silver 
woapachsin. 

WAP WALL OPEN, waph-allachpink ; i. e., "the place where white 
hemp grows; the name of a creek in Luzerne Co., Pa. 

WAR POES, wapoos ; i. e., "a hare, or rabbit;" the name of a 



52 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

tract ofland on Manhattan island, supposed at one time to abound 
in rabbits. 

WASE CA ; probably a corruption of washecha ; i. e. , " red earth," 
or " red paint." 

WASEBUR, waschabuck ; \. e., "a physic." 

WASHEC HA; i. e., " vermillion," or "red earth, or paint;" the 
name of several small streams in Minnesota and Dakota. 

WATAUGA ; said to mean "the river of islands;" the name of a 
river in N. C. 

WAUMBEC; i. e., " white rock;" said to be the Indian name for 
the White Mountains of N. H. 

WAZIO JU, or WASIO JA ; i. e., "pine grove;" the name of a 
village and creek in Southern Minn.; so named from some pine 
trees growing there. 

WECH QUETANK, wikquetank; the name of an old Indian village 
in E. Penna., called after a species of willow probably found on its 
site in former years. 

WECUPPE MEE; said to mean " bass wood;" the name of a small 
river in Conn. 

WEEHAW KEN, weachin; i. e., "maize land;" the name of a 
town in N. Y., on the Hudson river. 

WEPA TUCK, weepwoiunt- ohki ; i. e., "place at the narrow pass or 
strait ;" the name is now applied to a mountain in Conn. 

WEPOI SET; i. e., "at the little crossing place;" the Indian 
name for the narrows of the Kekam uit river, R. I. 

WE QUAPAUC ; i. e., "at the end of the pond;" the name of a 
small stream in R. I. 

WERAUWANO, probably from wajauivi "a chief," in Minsi and 
Delaware. 

WEWO KA, uewa water, wohkoto to ba/k ; i. e., "backing 
water;" the name of a stream in the Indian Territory, and also of 
a village on its banks. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 53 

WEQUATUCK ET, wequa-tukq-ut ; i. e., "head of a tidal river;" 
the name of a cove and tidal river near Stoning.ton, Conn. 

WHEE LING, whilink; i. e., " at the place of the head." The 
Indians say that a prisoner taken by them was put to death, and 
his head placed upon a pole at the place where the city of Wheel 
ing now stands ; whence the name. 

WHITE DEER CREEK, Union Co., Pa., a translation from woap- 
tuch-hanne. 

WHIP PANY, whip-hanne ; i. e., " arrow stream;" the name of a 
river in Morris Co., N. J. 

WICCOCAM OCA, wik hak omeko ; i. e., " where they are building 
houses;" or " you see where they build houses." 

WICOM ICO, wikomekec ; i. e., "where the houses are building;" 
the name of a small river on the E. shore of Md. 

WICONISCO, wike nkniskeu ; i. e., "wet and muddy camp;" the 
name of a stream in Dauphin Co., Pa. 

WIGHSACAN, wisachgin; i. e., "sour grapes." Some suppose 
this word to be derived from wisachgank rum or whiskey, wisachk 
signifying anything pungent to the taste. 

WIKAI LA KO, u-i water, kaya rising, lako great, large; i. e., 
"large spring;" the name of a town of the Creek Indians in the 
I. T. 

WILLIMAN TIC; Authors say this word may mean either "a good 
lookout," or "good cedar swamp;" at present the name of a river 
in Conn. 

WILIP QUIN; i. e., "place of interment of skulls and bones." 
The indians residing on the banks of this stream, and indeed the 
Delawares generally, were in the habit of taking the skulls, and 
whenever possible the other bones of their dead companions to 
certain spots, and burying them in caverns and deep holes ; the 
name of a creek in Md. 

WINANK, winaak ; i. e., "sassafras tree." 

WINGOHOCKING, wingehacking ; i. e., "favorite place for plant 
ing;" the name of the south branch of Frankford Creek in Penna. 



54 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

WIN^NEBA GO ; i. e., filthy," or "stinking;" originally the name 
of a tribe of Indians. 

WIN NEPE, we-ne-be-goo-she-shing ; i. e., "a place of dirty water;" 
the name of a lake in Minn. 

WIN NIPAUK, winmpaug; i. e., "fine pond." Winnipauk, saga 
more of Norwalk, is supposed to have taken his name from the 
place where he lived, and subsequently his name was adopted as 
the name of a village in Norwalk, Conn. 

WitfmPis.EO f GEE, winm-mpi-sau&e; i. e., "good water discharge 
or outlet;" the name of a river and lake in N. H.; the river to 
which evidently the name first belonged, being the outlet for the 
lake. 

WINO NA; i. e., "the first born child if a daughter," among the 
Dakotas. This word has now become the name of a town in the 
S. E. part of Minn. 

WISAME KING, or WISAMEEK ; i. e., "catfish camp." This camp 
was at or near where Washington, Pa., now stands, and for many 
years was the residence of a noted Indian called Catfish. 

WISAU KIN, wisachgime ; i. e., "place of grapes." 

WIS CONK, Wisquonk ; i. e., " the elbow; " the name of a river 
in N. J. 

WISOC CON, wisachcan ; i. e., "bitter or pungent to the taste." 

WISSAHICK ON, misamek-han ; i. e., "catfish stream;" the name 
of a stream in Philad. Co., Pa. 

WISSA YEK, qussuek a rock, ick place; i. e., "the rocky place, 
or country." This was the Indian name of Dover, Westchester 
Co., N. Y. 

Wissi s$ AUiNG, wisc/i-a?ze-mun&; i. e., " where we were frightened, 
or put to flight." 

WITAKAN TU; i. e., " high island;" the name of a lake and also 
of its outlet which flows into the Minn.; so called from a high 
wooded island in the lake. 

WITHLOCOOCHEE or WiTHLACOOCHEE ; i. e., "little river;" the 
name of a river in Florida. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 55 

WITUM KA, WETUMP KA, u-i water, tumkis it rumbles, makes a 
noise; i. e., "rumbling water;" the name of a tributary of the 
Yuchi or Euchee creek a branch of the Chatahuchi, or Chattahoo- 
chee river. 

WIWO KA,-/ water, wokis it is roaring; i. e., "roaring water;" 
the name of an eastern tributary of the Coosa river. 

WOLF CREEK, in W. Penna., was called by the Indians tum meik , 
\. e., "the place of wolves." 

WON GUNK; i. e., "a bend," or "at the bend." This word 
refers to a great bend in the Connecticut River, between Middle- 
town and Portland, Conn. 

WONK EMAUG; i. e. , "crooked pond," or "a crooked pond;" 
the name of a small lake in Conn. 

WUN NEGUN SET; This word is said to sig. "dish" or "bowl." 
It is now, however, applied to a high hill in Lebanon, Conn. The 
probability is the name has been transferred from some disri or 
bowl-shaped valley adjacent. 

WYALU SING, machwihillusing ; i. e., "at the dwelling place of 
the hoary veteran;" the name of a creek in Bradford Co., Pa., 
flowing into the Susquehanna below Towanda. 

WYANO KE, wigunake ; i. e., "the point of an island," "at the 
end," "land s end." 

WYO MING, m cheuomi, or m cheuwami; i. e., "extensive flats." 
This name was applied by the Delaware Indians to the beautiful 
valley in which Wilkesbarre now stands. The North Branch of the 
Susquehanna was called by the Delaware s m chuweami-sipu ; i. e., 
"the river of extensive flats." The Iriquois called it gahonta, a 
word of similar import. 

WVsox, WYSAUKIN ; from wisachgimi ; i. e., " place of grapes;" 
the name of a stream in Bradford Co., Pa. 

Y. 

YANK TON, ihanktonwe ; i. e., "a town or dwelling at the end." 
It is said the town oi Yankton, Dak., was named after a tribe of In 
dians called Ihanktonwe. If this be true, possibly, a better defini 
tion would be " the dwellers at the end." 



56 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

YAN TIC. This word may sig. either "on one side of the tidal 
river," or "extending to the tidal river." The name is now ap 
plied to a small river in Conn. 

YAZOO , yasu, or yashu ; i. e., "leaf," or "leafy;" the name of 
a river in Miss. 

YEL LOW BREECHES, callapassrink ; i. e., " where it turns back 
again;" supposed to refer to some place on the stream where it 
turns a sharp angle. This stream, for some distance, forms the 
boundary line between York and Adams counties, Pa., and flows 
into the Susquehanna a short distance below Harrisburg. 

YEMAS SEE, ya massi; i. e., "mild," "gentle," "peaceable." 
The word was first applied to a tribe of Indians inhabiting Ga., and 
is now the name of a town in that state north of Savannah. 

YOSEM ITE ; said to mean "grizzly bear." 

YOUGHIOGHENY, yuh-wiak-hanne ; i. e., "a stream running a 
contrary or roundabout course;" the name of a river in Fayette 
Co., Pa. 



SUPPLEMENTAL VOCABULARY. 



A. 

ALLEGHENY RIVER. This stream was called by the Senecas 
o-hee-yo ; i. e., "beautiful river." They seem to have applied the 
same name to the Ohio ; Indeed some suppose our word Ohio to be 
derived from this root instead of ohui-opeek-hanne. 

B. 

BINGHAMTON, N. Y. The place where this city stands was called 
by the Mohawks o-che-nang ; i. e., "bull thistles." 

BUFFALO, N. Y. The site of this city was called by the Senecas 
do-sho-weh ; i. e., "splitting the fork." 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 57 

c. 

CANANDAI GUA, ga-nun-da-gwa ; i. e., "a place selected for set 
tlement;" the name of a lake in N. Y. It was no uncommon 
thing for the Indians to adopt new sites for their villages, quite 
frequently, for sanitary reasons. 

CANADO WA CREEK, in New York, ga-na-da-wa-o ; i. e., " run 
ning through the hemlocks." 

CANEADE A CREEK, ga-oya-de-o ; i. e., "where the heavens rest 
upon the earth ; " the name of a stream in N. Y. 

CANESERA GA CREEK, in Chenango Co., N. Y., ka-na-so-wa-ga ; 
i. e., " several strings of beads with a string lying across." There 
is another creek, precisely of this orthography, in Livingston Co., 
N. Y., said to be derived from ga-nus-ga go, and to sig. "among 
the milk weed." Both roots, with their sig., are obtained from very 
high authority, and the probability is the similarity in the modern 
orthography is a mere coincidence. 

CANESTO TA, ka-ne-to-ta ; i. e., " pine tree standing alone; " the 
name of a small creek in Chenango Co., N. Y. 

CANIS TEO RIVER, in Steuben Co., N. Y., ta-car-nase-te-o ; i. e., 
" board on the water." 

CANO GA, ga-no-geh ; i. e., " oil flowing on the water ; " the name 
of a town on Cayuga Lake, N. Y. 

CASSADA GA LAKE, N. Y., gus-da-go ; i. e., "under the rocks." 

CASSADA GO CREEK, N. Y. This word is from the same root as 
the above and has the same signification. 

CATARA QUE RIVER, N. Y., ga-dai-o-que ; i. e., "fort in the 
water;" the name by which Lake Ontario was known to the Eng 
lish at an early day. 

CATTARAU GUS CREEK, in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., ga-da-ges-ga-o ; 
i. e., " feted banks." 

CAUGWA GA, ga-gwa-ga ; i. e., "creek of the cat nation;" the 
name of a small river in Erie Co., N. Y. 

CAYU V GA RIVER, N. Y., ga-da-geh; i. e.. " through the oak open 
ings." 



58 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

CAYU GA LAKE, N. Y. L. H. Morgan, Esq., in the appendix to 
his League of the Iriquois, says this word is derived from gwe-u - 
gweh in the Cayuga dialect and sig. " the lake of the murky 
land." Compare this sig. with those in the general vocabulary. 

CHAUTAU QUA LAKE, N. Y., cha-da-gueh ; i. e., " place where one 
was l^st." I deem this definition far more reliable than the one 
given in the general vocabulary. 

CHAUTAU QUE CREEK, in N. Y. Mr. Morgan says this word is 
derived from go-no-wun-go, and sig. " the rapids." 

CHENAN GO, o-che-nang; i. e., "bull thistles;" the name of a 
river in N. Y. 

CHESTER RIVER, in Delaware Co., Pa., was called by the Dela- 
wares, Macapanackhan, from meechappenackhan ; i. e., "the large 
potato stream." 

CHEMUNG ; said to mean " big horn," from an immense tusk of 
a mastodon or other antediluvian animal found in its bed ; the 
name of a river in Southern New York, flowing into the Susque- 
hanna. 

CHITTENAN GO, chu-de-naang ; i. e., "where the sun shines out;" 
the name of a creek in N. Y. 

CLARION RIVER, Clarion Co., Pa., was called by the Delaware 
Indians, gawunsch-hanne ; i. e., "briar stream." 

CO HOES FALLS, N. Y., ga-ha-oose ; i. e., " shipwrecked canoe." 
CONEWAN GO ; Mr. Morgan says this word is from go-no-wun-go, 

and sig. " the rapids;" the name of a river in N. Y. See General 

Vocabulary. 

CONHOC TON RIVER, ga-ha-to ; i. e., "a log in the water." 
CONNES US, ga-ne-a-sos ; i. e., "place of nanny-berries;" the 

name of a lake in Livingston Co., N. Y. 

CON ODAW, gunniada; i. e., "he tarries long." 
CONOY , guneu; i. e., "long;" the name of a creek in Lancas 
ter Co., Pa. 

D. 

DUCK CREEK, in Delaware, was called by the Indians quniquin- 
gus, i. e., " wild duck." 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 59 

G. 

GANOWAU GES or CANAWAU GUS, ga-no-wau-ges ; i. e., " feted 
waters;" the name of a town in Livingston Co., N. Y. 
GARDOW VILLAGE, ga-da-o ; i. e., "bank in fort." 

GEXESEE , gennis-he-yo ; i. e., "the beautiful valley;" the name 
of a river in N. Y. 

H. 

HOCK ENDAU QUA or HOCKENDOCQUE, hackuindochwe ; the name 
of a stream in Northampton Co., Pa. See Genl. Voe. 

HON EYOE, ha-ne-a-yeh ; i. e., "ringer lying;" the name of a lake 
in Monroe Co., N. Y. 

i. 

IRONDE QUOIT, neo-da-on-da-quat ; i. e., "a bay;" the name of 
a bay in Monroe Co., N. Y. 

N. 

NIAG ARA FALLS was called by the Senecas, who lived near them, 
date-car-sko-sasa ; i. e., "the highest falls." 

o. 

ONONDA GA, o-mm-da-ga ; i. e., "on the hills;" the name of a 
creek in New York. See Genl. Voc. 

ONTA RIO, ska-no-da-rio ; i. e., "beautiful lake." This root is 
from the Mohawk language. Compare with sig. in Gen. Voc. 

ORISK ANY, o-his-heh ; i. e., "place of nettles;" the name of a 
creek in N. Y. 

OSWA YA, o-so-a-yeh; i. e., "pine forest;" the name of a creek 
in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. 

OSWE GO, b-swa-gch; i. e., "flowing out." This river forms the 
outlet for a large number of lakes in Central N. Y. The word is 
of Mohawk origin. 

OTSQUA GO, o-squa-go ; i. e., "under the bridge;" the name of 
a creek in N. Y. 

OWAS CO, dwas-co ; i. e., "lake of the floating bridge;" the 
name of a lake in Cayuga Co., N. Y. 



60 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

OWE GO, ah-wa-ga; i. e., "where the valley widens;" the name 
of a river in Tioga Co., N. Y. 

s. 

SCHENECT ADY, ska-neh-ta-da ; i. e., "beyond the openings." 
This root is from the Seneca dialect, and varies somewhat from that 
in the Genl. Voc. Possibly a better translation would be "beyond 
the pine openings." 

SKANEAT ICE or SKANEATELES, sha-ne-a-dice ; "long lake;" the 
name of a lake in Onondaga Co., N. Y. 

ST. LAWRENCE. This river was called by the Oneidas ga no- 
wa-ga; i. e., "the rapid river." 

SUSQUEHAN NA. In the Onondaga dialect, this river was called 
ga-wa-no-wa-na-neh ; i. e., "great island river." 

We can hardly suppose, however, that the present name of this 
river is a corruption of this root, though a metamorphose as great 
as this would be, has frequently taken place in Indian names when 
undergoing adjustment to the English tongue. 

T. 

TICONDERO GA, je-hone-ta-lo-ga ; i. e, "noisy;" the name was 
applied by the Indians to the falls at the outlet of Lake George, in 
N. Y. 

TIC/GA POINT, N. Y., in the Cayuga dialect, was called ta-yo-ga ; 
i. e., "at the forks." 

TIOUGHNIO GA, o-nan-no-gi-is-ka ; i. e., "shag-bark hickory;" 
the name of a river in Cortland Co., N. Y. 

TONAWAN DA, ta-na-wun-da ; i. e., "swift water;" the name of 
a river in Genessee Co., N. Y. 

TORON TO ; probably a corruption from di-on-da; i. e., "log 
floating on the water." 

u. 

UNADIL LA, de-u-na-dil-lo ; i. e., "place of meeting;" the name 
of a town in Otsego Co., N. Y. 

w. 

WISCOY, o-wa-is-ki; i. e. "under the banks;" the name of a 
creek in Wyoming Co., N. Y. 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 6 1 

MISCELLANEOUS VOCABULARY. 



A. 

AARGAU (ar gow} ; i. e., " a county or district of the Aar ;" the 
name of a canton of Switzerland on the river Aar. 

AAYN; an Arabic word sig. fountain," generally written ain. 

ABAD ; a Hindoo word sig. "abode" or "dwelling place," oc 
curring frequently as a suffix in Hindostan. 

AFRICA ; this word is supposed to be derived from the name of 
some tribe in the neighborhood of Carthage, whose name signified 
"wanderers." Others think this word means "south land." 
Others, again, that it means "land of corn or ears." 

AHMED ABAD ; i. e., "the abode of Ahmed;" the name of a city 
of Hindostan. 

AIGUES MORTES (ag morf) ; i. e., "the dead, or still waters;" 
the name of a town of France, located in marsh ground near the 
Mediterranean sea. 

AIN; an Arabic word sig. " fountain." 

Aix, (aks} ; a French word sig. "water." This name is given 
to a city of France, near which are hot saline springs, the Aqua 
Lextia of the Romans. It is also the name of an ancient town in 
Sardinia, whose thermal springs have been noted for centuries. 

Aix LA CHAPELLE (aks-la-sha pell ^} ; i. e., " the waters," or "the 
fountains;" the name of a city of Prussia, noted for its thermal 
springs. 

AL ; this word is the Arabic definite article the, and is found as 
a prefix in a great many names in Spain and elsewhere. 

ALA MO; a Spanish word sig. "poplar trees;" the name of an 
old fort in Bexar Co., Texas. Here, on March 6, 1836, a small 
body of Tt xans with the eccentric Davy Crocket at their head re 
sisted a body of Mexicans of ten times their number till the last 
man was slain. From this circumstance the Alamo has been called 
the Thermopylae of Texas. 



62 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

ALHAMBRA; i. e., "the red;" so called from the color of the 
stones of which this magnificent Moorish palace is built. It stands 
on an eminence overlooking the city of Granada in Spain. 

ALLAH ABAD; i. e., "the abode of God." The Hindoos esteem 
the waters of both the Ganges and Jumna sacred and efficacious in 
purifying them of sin, and regard the spot where those two rivers 
meet as a most sacred shrine. To this place they perform annual 
pilgrimages lo the number of several thousands, for purposes of 
worship and purification. In consequence, a large city has grown 
up here which has taken the name of the shrine. 

ALPS ; this word is probably derived from the Welsh root al 
grand, sublime, and pen head; i. e., "the grand or sublime 
head." If this origin of the word be the correct one, it is another 
and additional proof of the great antiquity of the Welsh language. 

ALTA CALIFORNIA; i. e., "Upper California." 

AMAZON a-madzon ; i. e., "from the breast" or "without 
breasts." This river was so named by Orellana, who deserting 
Pizzaro during the latter s operations in Peru, marched eastward 
across the Andes until he reached the head waters of that mighty 
river ; then embarking on its bosom, explored it to its mouth, en 
countering on his voyage, as he says, much hostility from the 
natives, especially fromfema/e warriors, who to secure greater free 
dom in their movements, had either removed their breasts or greatly 
reduced them by compression, so much so as to render those organs 
invisible. 

AM ORITES ; i. e., "mountaineers." 

ANDALUSIA. The probability is this word is of Arabic origin, 
and signifies "hesperia or the region of the evening." 

Others suppose it to be a corruption of Vandalusia, and to mean 
the country of the Vandals. The term is applied to that delight 
ful district of Spain lying south of the Sierra Morena Mountains. 

ATHLONE, Athluan\ i. e., " ford of the moon;" the name of a 
town and barony of Ireland. 

AUSTRIA, oest-reich; i. e., "the east kingdom;" so named by 
the Emperor Charlemagne. 

AVON ; from the Celtic word afon water. In England this 
word occurs several times as the name of streams. 



INDIA.N LOCAL NAMES. 63 

B. 

BAALBEC, or BALBEC; i. e., "the city of Baal." The Greeks 
called this city Heliopolis a word of similar import. Baal is a 
Hebrew word sig. "lord," "owner" or "master," and with the 
Babylonians and Assyrians was the god of the sun. 

BAD, pi. BADEN, (Ger.;) i. e., "bath" or "baths." 

BAHIA HONDA, (ba-ee a on da} ; i. e., " deep bay;" the name of 
a harbor in Cuba. 

BALACLAVA, bella chiava ; i. e., "the beautiful quay ;" the 
name of a town of Russia on the Black Sea; so named by the 
Genoese. 

BALIZE; i. e., "beacon," "sea mark," "light house." Now 
the name of a political division of Cent. America. 

BEAR LAKE, GREAT ; a lake of British America, so named from 
its position under the constellation of the Great Bear, the Arctic 
(Arctos bear] circle passing over it. 

BEERSHEBA; i. e., "well of the oath." 

BELFAST ; this word is a corruption of the Norse words beal na 
farsad ; i. e., "the mouth of the fiord;" the name of a town in 
the North of Ireland. 

BEN LOMOND; i. e., "beacon mountain." 

BEN VENUE; "little mountain." This word and the foregoing 
are names of mountains in Scotland. 

BETH; a Hebrew word sig. " house." 

BETHANY; i. e., " the house of dates." 

BETHEL; i. e., "the house of God." 

BIRMINGHAM, brom heath, wych or wick village, ham home; 
i. e., "the village on the heath," or "the home village on the 
heath." This latter definition is not very elegant or satisfactory. 
The word ham enclosure or home, in this case seems to be sur- 
plussage, as the word wych would seem to convey equally well the 
idea of home or dwelling place ; the name of a great manufacturing 
city of England. 

BOKHARA; i. e., "the treasury of sciences." The name of a fa 
mous city of W. Asia, once the seat of Mohammedan learning. 



64 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

BOSTON, BO-STON, BOTOLPH S-TON ; i. e., " Bartholomew s town ;" 
the name of a town in Lincolnshire, Eng. The foregoing deriva 
tion is given by Rev. Isaac Taylor, of England, in his Words 
and Places. 

BRAHMAPOOTRA; i. e., "the son of Brahm;" the name of a 
river of India rising in the Plateau of Thibet. 

BRYN MAWR ; a word of Welsh origin sig. " big hill," or "great 
hill;" the name of a station on the Penna. R. R., near Philad. 

BUENA VISTA, (dona vis ta) ; i. e., " the good view;" the name 
of a celebrated battle field in the N. W., part of Mexico, made 
memorable by the victory obtained here by the Americans under 
General Z. Taylor, over the Mexicans. 

c. 

CADIZ, Phon. gadir ; i. e., "an enclosure." No doubt, where 
this city stands there was at first only a trading post of the Phoeni 
cians ; which for greater security, was by some means enclosed. Or 
the name may have had allusion to the fact that ihe town was built 
upon an island, and hence enclosed by water; the name of a seaport 
town of Spain. 

CALCUT TA, Kaller Ghatta ; i. e., "the step or landing place of 
Kaller" the goddess of Time. 

CALIFORNIA. This name is supposed to have been taken from an 
old Spanish romance by Ordonez de Montalva, published about the 
year 1510. The romance referred to an island of California on the 
right hand of the Indies very near the Terrestrial Paradise. 

The name was first applied to an island or the peninsula of Cali 
fornia, which was at first thought to be an island, and was adopted 
from the novel from 1535 to 1539. It is not known that Cortez 
was the first to apply it, and some even suppose it was first used in 
derision. 

CAMBRIA, cymry ; i. e., "the country of the mountaineers," or 
" the land of the mountaineers;" the ancient name of Wales. 

CAMDEN; i. e., "crooked vale;" the name of a town near Lon 
don, Eng. 

CANARIES, Lat. cants a dog; i. e., "dog islands;" so named 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 65 

from the circumstance that when first discovered, those islands 
were found to abound in wild dogs. 

CANTERBURY, cant wara byrig; i. e., "the men of the head 
land;" the name of a city and county of England. 

CAPE; from the Latin word caput a head. For this word the 
Italians have capo, the Spaniards and Portuguese, cabo, and the 
Arabs, ras. 

CAPE BLANCO; i. e., "the white, blank, or bare head;" the 
name of several barren headlands on different parts of the globe. 

CAPE HORN, or HOORN ; so named by the Dutch navigator 
Shout-in, who first doubled it, in honor of his native village of 
Hoorn, on the Zuyder Zee. 

CHAMPS ELYSEES (sh ons -e-le-ze] ; i. e., "The Elysian Fields;" the 
name of a magnificent avenue in the city of Paris, extending from 
the Gardens of the Tuilleries to the Arc de Triomphe de 1 Etoile; 
that is to trie arch of triumph of the star twelve streets radiating 
from this arch. 

COLUMBIA RIVER, Oregon ; discovered by Capt. Robt. Gray, of 
Boston, in 1792, and named by him in honor of his vessel, the 
Columbia Rediviva. 

COPENHAGEN; i. e., " the market place harbor." 

D. 

DARDANELLES ; from Dardcenus, an ancient town on the Asiatic 
side of those straits built by Dardanus, the ancestor of Priam. 

DARM; a German word, sig. " gut" or " intestine." 

DETROIT; from the French, and sig. "the narrows," or "the 
narrow passage." 

DORCHESTER. This is a hybrid word, from the Celtic word 
dur water, and the Latin word castra camp, and sig. "the camp 
by the water." Very good authority, however, claims that this 
word means "dwellers by the water." 

DOUGLAS; i. e., "black water;" the name of a stream in Scot 
land. 

5 



66 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

E. 

EBENEZER; i. e. " stone of help." 

EDINBOROUGH; i. e. "Edwin s Castle, or Fort. The Celtic 
form is Dun Edin Burgh, sig. castle or fortification. This word 
was formerly written Edwinsburg. 

EDOM; i. e., "the red;" supposed by some to be so named 
from the ruddy hue of its mountains ; by others from the reddish 
color of the pottage furnished Esau, to whose lot this country fell, 
by his brother Jacob. The country of Edom lies between the 
head of the Red Sea and Palestine. 

EHRENBREITSTEIN; i. e., "honor s broad stone;" the name of a 
town and noted fortress on the Rhine. 

F. 

FOND DU LAC; a French word sig. "end of the lake;" the name 
of a town in Wisconsin, at the head of lake Winnebago. 

FONTAINEBLEAU; this French word is supposed to be derived 
iiQ\r\fontaine-belle-eau "fountain of beautiful water;" the name 
of a small town of France near Paris. 

G. 

GALENA; from galena a species of lead ore; the name of a city 
in 111., situated near some rich mines of lead. 

GALILEE; i. e., "a circle;" the name of a lake in Palestine. 

GERMANY ; supposed to be derived from the Gaelic word gair- 
mean ; i. e., "one who cries out;" and the name either alludes to 
the fierce war cry of the Teutonic hordes, or more probably it ex 
presses the wonder with which the Celts of Gaul listened to the un 
intelligible clash of the harsh German gutturals. Other authorities 
say the word is derived from wherman and sig. " war men." 

GIBRALTAR, Gebel el Taric ; i. e., "Taric s Hill," or "Taric s 
Mountain." 

In the year 711 a body of Saracens under their leader Taric Ibn 
Zeyad, crossed over from Africa and took possession of the southern 
extremity of Spain, calling the promontory which for ages had 
been known as the Northern Pillar of Hercules, after their leader 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 67 

Taric. Gebel is an Arabic word sig. "hill," e. g., Gebel 
Mousa ; i. e., hill of Moses. If I mistake not the word taric or 
tarik sig. " clear the way." If so, those hardy warriors of the des 
ert had given to their leader an appropriate sobriquet, since it was 
Taric, indeed, who led their vanguard and cleared the way for 
that Saracenic host which finally overran Spain and held its fairest 
provinces under subjection for nearly eight centuries. 

H. 

HAPSBURG; i. e., "Hawk s Castle." 

HAVANA; i. e., "the haven," or "the harbor." This city of 
Cuba has one of the very finest harbors in the world. 

HAVRE; i. e., "the haven." 

HEIM; a German word, sig. "home," now a suffix to many 
names of towns and villages in Germany, and wherever the Ger 
man language prevails. 

HELLESPONT; i. e., "the Sea of Helle." Helle was the daugh 
ter of Athmos, king of Thebes, and is said to have been drowned 
in this strait. 

HELL GATE; a corruption of the old Dutch name, Horll Gatt ; 
i. e,, "whirl passage; the name of a dangerous rapid in New York 
harbor. 

I. 

ING; an English suffix, sig. " son of, " e. g., Reading, i. e., 
"son of Read." 

INTERHCHEN; i. e., " between the lakes;" the name of a village 
of Switzerland, on the river Aar, between lakes Thun and Brienz ; 
whence the name. The town is devoid of interest in itself, but is 
noted for the grandeur of the surrounding scenery. 

INVERNESS; i. e. "at the confluence of the Ness." This town of 
Scotland stands near the junction of the river Ness with Moray 
Frith. 

J- 

JAN MAYAN ISLAND, discovered by Jan Mayan, a Dutch whaling 
captain, and named in his honor; the name of an island in the 
Arctic Ocean. 

JAVA; immjayah; i. e., "nutmeg." 



68 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

K. 

KEY WEST; a corruption of the Spanish words cayo hueso, and 
sig. "bone islets." The name has no reference to the position of 
the island, since it is not the most western of the Florida Keys, but 
has its origin in the beautifully white and bone-like appearance of 
the coral formations which fringe the shore. 

L. 

LA GRANGE; i. e., the "barn," "farm-house," or "country 
seat." 

LA LAND ; i. e., " low land ;" the name of an island of Denmark 
in the Baltic sea. 

LA LANDES ; "the plains;" the name of a district of France. 

LAMA; i. e., " one who shows the way." 

LONDON ; the word is supposed to be of Celtic origin, and to sig. 
"city of ships," or "ship-town." Some suppose don or dun is of 
Welsh origin, and sig. "fort." 

Los ANGELOS, (loce an -jeh-lez) ; i. e., "the angels;" the name 
of a town in California. 

M. 

MADEIRA, Port. Madera\ i. e., "timber." The Madeira River, 
an affluent of the Amazon still flows through a dense forest. 

MADRE DE DIGS ; i. e., " mother of God ;" the name of an ar 
chipelago west of Patagonia. 

MATAMORAS; mata bush, moras mulberry; i.e., "mulberry 
bush." 

MATTERHORN ; German matt meadow, horn peak; i. e. "the 
peak in the meadows." 

N. 

NETHERLANDS, nederlanden; i. e., "the lowlands;" the name 
of a portion of Europe lying along the North Sea, now known as 
Holland, containing the mouths of the Rhine, Meuse, &c. Much 
of the surface near the coast is lower than the surface of the sea, 
and has to be protected from the ocean by dykes or embankments. 

o. 

OREGON; so called by Malte Brun, the great geographer, in 
mistake. Reading on an old Spanish map, "and it is not yet 



INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 69 

known (y-aun se ignora) where the source of this river (the river 
now called the Columbia) is situated," he thought he recognized 
in the word ignora, the name Oregon. Alexander von Humboldt 
is quoted as the authority for the foregoing statement. 

P. 

PALESTINE, Hebraic, pe lescheth ; i. e., "philistines," "strangers," 
" sojourners," " wanderers." 

PALMYRA; i. e., "the city of palm trees." 

PALO ALTO; i. e., "high post, stake, or mast;" the name of a 
battle-field near the southern boundary of Texas. 

PIKE S PEAK; named in honor of Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, who 
explored much of the country west of Miss., under President Jef 
ferson. He fell in making a successful assault on the town of York 
in Upper Canada, in 1813. 

Q- 

QUATRE BRAS, (kafrbra); i. e., "four arms;" the name of a vil 
lage of Belgium situated about ten miles south-east of Waterloo ; so 
named because, at this point, the road from Brussels to Charleroi 
intersects the road from Namur to Nivelles, producing/^;- arms. 

R. 

RATISBON, a corruption of the German word Regensburg; i. e., 
" the town at the Regen ;" the name of a town of Bavaria on the 
Danube, opposite the mouth of the Regen. 

ROCHESTER, rhos moor, castra camp; i. e., "the camp on 
the moor;" the name of a city of England on the Medway. 

S. 

SACRAMENTO; i. e., "the sacrament;" the name of a city in 
California. 

Like many other places in the new world, explored and settled 
by nations professing the Catholic religion, the spot where this city 
stands was, originally, in all probability, a missionary station, and 
received, as was almost the universal custom with these stations, a 
sacred name. 

SAN SALVADOR; i. e., " holy saviour ;" the name given by Co 
lumbus to the first land discovered by him. 

SAVANNAH; from the Spanish word sabana meadow, prairie, or 
plain. 



70 INDIAN LOCAL NAMES. 

SINAI; i. e., "jagged," or "full of cliffs." 
SIGN, ZION ; i. e., " the upraised." 

SOUDAN, Arabic, suda ; i. e., "blacks;" e. g., Beled-es^suda 
"the land of the blacks." 

T. 

TEXAS. This name is taken from a town of the Nassomtes In 
dians, standing on the Neches River, between the Ceries and the 
Sabine. The signification of the name is in obscurity. It may 
have referred to some insignificant tribe of Indians. Some suggest 
it may have been derived from the Spanish word teja, plural tejas, 
in allusion to the light shed covering of the dwellings of the natives. 

TRANS ; a ward of Latin origin sig. "across " or "beyond " and 
used as a prefix to many local names; e. g., Transylvania ; i. e., 
" beyond the woods." 

u. 

UAM VAR ; i. e., "great den " or " great cavern ;" the name of 
a mountain in Perth Co., Scotland. It derives its name from a re 
treat among its rocks on the south side which tradition says was 
formerly inhabited by a giant. Allusion is made to this mountain 
in Scott s Lady of the Lake. 

V. 

VOLGA or WOLGA ; a Sarmatian word, sig. " the great river." 

w. 

WARRINGTON; possibly from waer-ing-ton ; i. e., "the fortified 
enclosure," or "the fortified town in the meadow;" the name of 
a town in Lancaster Co., England. 

Y. 

YORK; from Eurewic or Yarewic ; i. e., the town on the Eure ; 
the name of a very old town in York Co., England, standing on 
the banks of the Ouse river. As the Ouse is formed by the junc 
tion of the Swale and Eure, or Ure, the probability is the name 
Eure, or Ure, was formerly applied to what is now known as the 
Ouse. 

z. 

ZEE; a Dutch word, sig. "sea " 
ZUYDER ZEE; i. e., "southern sea." 



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